\n\tThe final phase of the joint air defense exercise, codenamed \u2018Guardians\n of Velayat Sky-98\u2019, began in an area of 416,000 square kilometers \nmostly in the province of Semnan, according to Tasnim News Agency \nreported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\tDuring the Friday drills, the domestically made air defense system \u201cTalash\u201d destroyed the high-altitude targets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\tThe psychological and civil defense operations were also carried out in the final phase of the exercise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\tThe war game is aimed at boosting the combat preparedness and \nconsolidate the air defense capabilities of the Armed Forces in \nsimulated real-war conditions, according to the Iranian commanders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\tThe drill includes various types of homegrown missile systems and \nradars countering aerial threats in low, medium and high altitudes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\tIran\u2019s Armed Forces hold routine military exercises throughout the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\tIranian officials have repeatedly underscored that the country will not\n hesitate to strengthen its military capabilities, including its missile\n power, which are entirely meant for defense, and that Iran\u2019s defense \ncapabilities will be never subject to negotiations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\tOn the sidelines of the military drill, Commander of the IRGC’s Khatam \nal-Anbiya Headquarters Major General Gholam Ali Rashid said the United \nStates must act responsibly to protect the lives of its soldiers in the \nregion, warning that Iran is ready to respond to any threat by using \ndefensive and offensive measures, Press TV reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\t“Washington has to act responsibly in protecting and not endangering \nthe lives of American soldiers by avoiding any mistakes in the region, \nspecifically in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\tRashid added that Tehran did not seek war, but that branches across \nIran’s Army and IRGC forces were always prepared to defend Iran’s \ninterests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\tHe added that Iran’s ability to repel any “provocative action” is increasing in a “coordinated manner.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\tThe military drill came after Washington’s USS Abraham Lincoln sailed \nthrough the Strait of Hormuz and entered the Persian Gulf on Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\tOn the same day, US President Donald Trump announced the deployment of \nthe first batch of previously promised troops in Saudi Arabia. There \nwill be a total of 3,000 troops in the “coming weeks.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\tThe troops are being deployed to “assure” Washington’s regional \npartners and “deter further Iranian provocative behavior,” Trump said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\tWashington, along with its regional allies such as Riyadh, has sought \nto couple economic sanctions with the prospect of military action as \npart of a campaign of “maximum pressure” against Tehran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\tSpeaking regarding the developments on Friday, Rashid said “sending \nmessages and words” were not enough to deter Iran’s enemies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\t“Suitable measures and actions are needed”, he added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Iranian air defense units on Friday staged the final phase of a large-scale joint military exercise in the northern parts of the country. The final phase of the joint air defense exercise, codenamed \u2018Guardians of Velayat Sky-98\u2019, began in an area of 416,000 square kilometers mostly in the province of Semnan, according to Tasnim […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2884,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[8,1,6],"tags":[975,177,27],"yoast_head":"\n