Update: Iran flexes muscles with large-scale military drills

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) began on Tuesday large-scale military drills in the southeastern part of the country, Press TV reported.

Code-named the Great Prophet, the drills started in Sistan-and-Baluchestan province, the report said, adding that the IRGC has deployed 10 reconnaissance drones.

The war game also involves IRGC's newly-founded ground force airborne unit, Tasnim news agency reported.

On Tuesday, the unit's helicopters took part in a heliborne operation to deploy combat forces to the rear of the hypothetical enemy's front. The combat choppers also hit targets with rockets.

Moreover, IRGC's special forces took part in the drills on Tuesday. The forces practiced a hostage rescue mission, with ground troops using T-72 tanks and BMP-2 personnel carriers to launch an attack against the mock enemy.

The three-day drills will also be held in the provinces of Kerman, South Khorasan and Hormozgan in the east and south of Iran, Commander of the IRGC Ground Forces Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour was quoted as saying by Press TV.

The drills are partially aimed at maintaining the preparedness of the IRGC forces, displaying the Iranian Armed Forces' might, improving security of the region and implementing certain tactics, Pakpour said.

The IRGC staged missile drills and test-fired several ballistic missiles in March, which incited the criticism of the West that fears that the program might be developed for carrying nuclear warheads.

Iran has denied the allegations, insisting on defensive and peaceful nature of its missile plan. Endit