Iran wraps up drills with heavy precision-guided shelling

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) launched heavy artillery fire to destroy enemy targets on Wednesday, the third and final day of its military drills in northeastern Iran, Press TV reported.

The drills were carried out in Taybad County of Khorasan Razavi Province, where IRGC's Saberin Special Forces Brigade, backed by state-of-the-art rocket fire and precision-guided projectiles, struck mock enemy positions and vehicles.

According to the report, the IRGC's T-72 tank units Boraq personnel carriers, which are modified Iranian version of Russian BMP-1 fighting vehicles, and BMP-2 armored vehicles were used in the maneuvers.

IRGC Ground Forces also used drones to practise reconnaissance missions. Heliborne aerial firepower and reconnaissance flights were reported to have assisted the simulated warfare.

On Wednesday, Brig. Gen. Ali Akbar Pourjamshidian, the spokesman for the drills, described the heliborne operations as "successful" and said the maneuvers, which serve "defense and security" purposes, are meant to enhance the IRGC's preparedness in the face of enemy threats.

The IRGC commander also belittled Israeli threats against his country.

"We are prepared to confront whatever threat posed to the Islamic republic's establishment. Of course, the Zionist regime (of Israel) is not of such proportions," he said.

IRGC's Ground Forces started a large-scale military exercise in Dasht-e Kavir in the central part of the country on Monday, which was extended to the northeast of Iran on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The on-going war game code-named Payambar-e Azam 11 (the Great Prophet) is conducted under the motto of "Presentation of Power and Sustainable Security."

Various units of the IRGC Ground Forces, including the artillery, air defense, drone, infantry and air force units, participated in the military drills.

On Monday, the IRGC forces also fired smart rockets to hit positions of mock enemies with pinpoint accuracy.

On Saturday, Brig. Gen. Mohammad Pakpour, the commander of the IRGC Ground Forces, said advanced rockets would be test-fired during the war game in the central parts of the country.

The exercises feature the intelligence command and defensive preparedness of the IRGC's elite servicemen against potential incursions, according to media reports. Endit