IRGC Ground Force Airborne Unit Takes Lead in War Game
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Force Airborne Unit, which has been founded recently, took an active role in the first day of massive military exercises in southeast Iran.
The Airborne Unit flew its Mil Mi-17 and Bell-208 helicopters in a heliborne operation to deploy combat forces to the rear of the hypothetical enemy’s front. The Cobra choppers also hit targets with rockets.
Codenamed Payambar-e Azam (The Great Prophet), the war game will last for three days in the regions of Saravan, Mirjaveh and Zahedan, in Sistan and Balouchestan province.
The IRGC Special Forces have also taken part in the drill.
Forces attending the war game also practiced hostage rescue operation on Tuesday morning, with the ground troops using T-72 tanks and BMP-2 personnel carriers to launch an attack against the mock enemy.
While the 23-mm cannons have been utilized for air defense, the homegrown drones ‘Sadeq’ and ‘Shahed-129’ were also flown over the drill zone for reconnaissance and aerial operations.
According to IRGC Ground Force Commander Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour, the purpose of the drill is maintaining preparedness for battle, displaying the power of forces and ensuring security in the region with reliance on the local residents.
Lying in a deserted region, the province of Sistan and Balouchestan borders Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Since a couple of years ago, the IRGC has employed a strategy to get advantage of the local forces to ensure regional security in the face of narcotics trafficking or the entry of terrorists and outlaws.
