Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 25
By Umid Niayesh - Trend:
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) started a massive naval drill on Feb. 25 morning in the Gulf and the strategic Strait of Hormuz through which one fifth of the world oil supply passes.
The drill dubbed "Prophet Mohammad-9" is aimed boosting the IRGC's combat power and showcasing its missile capabilities to "trans-regional powers," the Islamic Republic's Mehr news agency reported.
The first stage of the drill includes laying anti-ship mines by speed boats.
The Prophet Mohammad-9 drill started in presence of the Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani as well as commander of the IRGC Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari and high-ranking military commanders.
Various systems will be used for conducing naval defense scenarios and tactics in the drill.
Last December Iranian army held a large-scale military drill near Strait of Hormuz.
The exercise dubbed "Mohammad Rasoulallah" covered an area of 2.2 million square kilometers from the country's south east territory, east of the Strait of Hormuz to the southern parts of the Gulf of Aden.
The six-day military exercise included Iranian navy, air force, ground units and the Khatam al-Anbia air defense base.
Last month IRGC's naval commander Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi said that the IRGC's military principles are based on confronting with the US threats, standing against them and being the battle field's winner.
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