Iranian state television on Friday broadcast footage of the commander of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) touring a secretive underground missile base reportedly used in an attack on the Israeli occupation, hours after a paramilitary march in Tehran by Basij volunteers. 

The missile base, described as being located "in the mountains," houses "dozens" of missile types and was reportedly utilized in Iran's second-ever direct strike on the Israeli occupation last October over the latter's violation of the Islamic Republic's sovereignty.  

IRGC chief Hossein Salami inspected the facility, signaling Iran's strategic readiness amid heightened regional tensions. The timing coincides with the upcoming inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump, who previously ordered a drone strike that martyred IRGC commander Qasem Soleimani and reinstated sanctions on Tehran after withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear deal.

Earlier on Friday, thousands of Basij fighters, a paramilitary force linked to the IRGC, paraded through the streets of Tehran with heavy weaponry. The demonstration included vehicles mounted with rocket launchers, artillery units, naval commandos, and fighters equipped with rocket launchers. The forces carried Hezbollah and Palestinian flags alongside the flags of the Islamic Republic.

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General Mohammadreza Naghdi, a senior Guards commander, addressed the crowd, denouncing the United States and the Israeli occupation. "The United States is behind all the misfortune in the Muslim world," Naghdi claimed, emphasizing that dismantling the Zionist regime and expelling American bases from the region were priorities for Iran.

Tehran's IRGC commander, General Hassan Hassanzadeh, reiterated Iran's support for the Palestinian cause, a cornerstone of the nation’s foreign policy since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. "We aim to support the population of Gaza and Palestine," Hassanzadeh stated. "The Basij are ready to confront all threats from enemies of the Islamic revolution."

Iran to integrate anti-ballistic system

A senior commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force announced that Iran is set to test a new domestically developed anti-ballistic defense system in the near future.

Brigadier General Davoud Sheikhiyan highlighted Thursday the strategic significance of the upcoming test. "In the near future, we will witness the testing of the Islamic Republic's indigenous anti-ballistic defense system, which will undoubtedly create significant equations in the military domain and the perceptions of countries hostile to the Islamic Republic," he said.

Sheikhiyan elaborated on the organizational structure behind military drills in Iran, noting that they are primarily coordinated by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters. These exercises, he added, were conducted in accordance with official policies and potential threats.

During the Payambar-e-A’azam (The Great Prophet) 19 war games held in Iran's western and central regions, various scenarios were tested, including tactics to counter kamikaze drones. Sheikhiyan described these drones as a significant emerging aerial threat, citing their affordability and the challenges they pose due to their potential for mass deployment.