IRGC and extensive military exercises

Iran's Islamic Revolution's Guards Corps (IRGC) is going to launch extensive military exercises in 16 different provinces of the country today.

During the three-day-long maneuvers, 20 infantry and mechanized brigades of IRGC's ground forces will practice different tactics in three different stages while using the most advanced weaponries.

A statement released by IRGC's public relations said that the war games have been designed to help forces keep up their preparedness for all-around defense and asymmetric war through practice of the various types of battle tactics.

According to the statement, the maneuvers, code named'Eghtedar' (Might) are the last in a series of war games foreseen in IRGC's schedule for this year.

Iranian IRGC troops have already staged several other military exercises this Iranian solar calendar year, including 'the Great Prophet' 1 and 2 as well as two other missile war games by IRGC naval forces called 'Ra'd' (thunder) and Sa'eqeh' (lightening).

Iran test-fired its short-range "Zelzal" and "Fajr-5" missiles during its recent maneuvers. While the Zalzal is a solid fuel missile, the Fajr-5 missile, from the Persian word meaning dawn, is an artillery rocket developed by Iran in early 2006. It includes a mobile platform and its primary role is to engage land targets, with a range of 50 miles.

Iran also held three large-scale military exercises last year. In its April exercises, Iran tested what it called an "ultra-horizon" missile, which is fired from helicopters and jets, and the Fajr-3 missile, which can evade radar and use multiple warheads to hit several targets simultaneously.

Iran regularly holds large maneuvers, often using them to test weapons developed by its arms industry.