Army’s Zolfaghar 1403 military drills end in southern waters
Iran’s Army joint military drills, codenamed Zolfaghar 1403, ended with a naval parade in the country’s southern waters.
The military exercises started on Saturday in an area along the strategic Makoran coastline in the southern part of the country, the Sea of Oman, and the northern tip of the Indian Ocean, extending up to the 10-degree latitude.
Commander of the Iranian Army’s Air Defense Force Brigadier General Alireza Sabahi Fard said on Tuesday that Army’s forces successfully practiced countering possible enemy infiltration.
Various infantry, armored and mechanized units, air defense systems, unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), unmanned surface vessels (USVs) as well as air force strategic bombers for logistical support participated in the military maneuver.
Organized under the theme “Stable Security under the Shadow of Self-Reliance, Unity, and Power,” the exercise tested an array of military capabilities.
Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, deputy chief of the Army for Coordination, and the commander of the joint drill, said on Saturday that the primary goal of the exercise is to enhance the defensive and deterrence capabilities of the Iranian Armed Forces in the face of potential aerial, ground and naval threats.
The senior military commander noted that the massive exercise also serves as a testing ground for the new tactics that are drawn up and employed by young personnel of the Iranian Army.
New generations of domestically-developed arms, indigenous smart munitions, and homegrown weapons equipped with pinpoint accuracy systems, in addition to a wide array of missiles, were tested during the three-day military drill.
The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Aerospace Force also joined the drill on Tuesday.
During a joint missile operation, the Iranian Navy and the IRGC Aerospace Force hit naval targets in the northern parts of the Indian Ocean.
The Navy and the IRGC forces launched various ballistic and naval cruise missiles to detonate and sink a naval target.
Iranian military forces hold routine exercises according to a detailed schedule in various parts of the country in order to test their weaponry and equipment and evaluate their combat preparedness.
In recent weeks, Iran has conducted military exercises across the country, including near nuclear facilities in the west and center of the country.
The country’s officials have repeatedly underscored that the country will not hesitate to strengthen its military capabilities and that Iran’s defense capabilities will never be subject to negotiations.