Alwaght- Iranian warplanes have warned off two US-led coalition warships during an ongoing military drill in waters off the country’s southeast, a high ranking military officer said.
The warning was issued during military drills which started on Monday, codenamed Mohammad Rasoulallah SAW (Muhammad, the Prophet of God).
Rear Admiral Sayyed Mahmoud Mousavi, the spokesperson for the drills, said two US-led coalition warships that had approached the site of the drills for surveillance were identified by Iranian Navy drones, which communicated data back to command and control. Iranian patrol and surveillance airplanes were then dispatched to the area and flew over the battleships, warning them to leave, he added. The battleships complied, according to Mousavi.
Rear Admiral Mousavi also said that the Army’s Ground Forces fired a Fajr 5 rocket and a Naze’at missile as part of defense exercises during the first day of the drills.
Admiral Mousavi explained that the first day saw operations by naval surface and subsurface vessels as well as aerial craft to monitor, track, and destroy mock enemy units to prevent them from approaching Iranian waters.
The annual drills kicked off early on Monday on an order by Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, Iranian Army’s deputy commander in-charge of coordination. Sayyari said the two-day maneuvers are involving the Army's naval, ground and air forces as well as Air Defense units.
The maneuvers are aimed at enhancing the preparedness and morale of the Iranian Army's personnel; evaluating training tactics, fire power and coordination among Army forces; devising plans to stage joint exercises at any time as well as improving the defense capabilities of the Iranian Army, the commander emphasized. The Islamic Republic is capable of maintaining full security of its waters; monitoring all marine traffic, especially security of energy transit routes; and establishing sustainable security in the region, he added.
Iran has in recent years made great headways in manufacturing a broad range of military equipment, including air defense systems that use cutting-edge technologies which are tested during military drills.
Tehran has repeatedly stated that its military might is defensive in nature and poses no threat to other countries.
