Iran’s "Thar Allah" drills kicks off

Rasa - The Iranian commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, General Mohammad Ali Jaafari, announced in Tehran on Thursday the beginning of the two-day "Thar Allah [the revenge of Allah]" maneuvers.

News ID: 3285

Date: 04 September 2015 - 09:26

RNA - A total of 50,000 Basij voluntary forces affiliated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) from 25 battalions are taking part in the exercise, ISNA News Agency reported.

Spokesperson of the exercises, General Nasser Shaabani, said that Thar Allah is composed of 230 brigades, with the participation of 10 Gyroplanes, 20 Paramotors, 1 engine kite, 1 helicopter MRI-17.

"Today, the Islamic Iran as one of the most stable countries in the region, and enemy threats still exist. Enemies will never give up their hostility against the Iranian people. The form of the threat changes. We must always be ready," Shaabani stressed.

"By the end of the current year, there will be other maneuvers. Security and stability are the messages of these exercises, "He added.

Basij is a paramilitary volunteer corps established in 1979 by order of the leader of the Islamic Revolution late Ayatollah Sayyed Rouhollah al-Khomeini.

Commander of the IRGC, General Mohammad Ali Jafari said at the news conferences that the drills aim at boosting the forces' defensive preparedness to neutralize possible threats against country’s national security, as well as to conduct rescue operations.

Previously Jafari said that Iran plans to conduct 20 military exercises before March 2016.

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