Iranian Air Force to kick off large-scale military drills

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
23 Jul 2023 18:43
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Codenamed Fadaeeyan-e Harim-e Velayat 11, the war game will take place in Iran's central province of Isfahan.

A fighter jet belonging to the Iranian Air Force (IRNA)

The Commander of the Iranian Air Force, Brigadier General Hamid Vahedi, confirmed that the Air Force will kick off large-scale military drills in Iran's central regions on Sunday night, with the participation of a whole range of military aircraft, the Iranian news website Tasnim reported.

Codenamed Fadaeeyan-e Harim-e Velayat 11 (Devotees of Velayat Airspace 11), the war game will take place in Iran's central province of Isfahan to convey the message of "friendship, peace, calm and security" to the region, Vahedi indicated.

The Iranian commander highlighted that the Iranian Air Force will use 92 aircraft in the recent war game, including "various fighter jets, interceptor aircraft, bombers, and unmanned aerial vehicles," as per Tasnim.

Vahedi mentioned that his forces will stage a wide variety of operations during the drills, including "reconnaissance and aerial imaging, detonation of air and ground targets, electronic warfare, civil defense tactics, and testing of new modern systems."

In addition, Vahedi pointed out that the war game will include "diverse combat tactics and standoff attack operations with drones to destroy targets with pinpoint accuracy."

"The main axis of the war game is (ensuring) sustainable security, promoting and strengthening regional relations, good neighborliness and defending the country’s air borders," the Iranian Brigadier General was quoted as saying.

This comes as the United States is increasing its presence in the Middle East as tensions grow with Iran after several provocations by American vessels, at a time when states in the region are moving away from naval security cooperation with Washington.