Revolutionary Guards Hold Large-Scale War Games in Northwest Iran

The ground forces of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) began a massive three-day military exercise in the country’s northwestern region on Monday, the semiofficial Tasnim news agency reported. The exercise is being held along Iran’s borders with Azerbaijan and Armenia, in the Ardabil and East Azerbaijan provinces of Iran’s Region 3. IRGC Ground Force Commander Brig. Gen. Mohammad Pakpour said the war games would include heliborne and airborne operations, night raids, and operations involving combat helicopters and “suicide” drones. Pakpour told the IRGC’s official news outlet Sepah News last week that the drill was part of the scheduled annual missions of the IRGC Ground Force, which aims to boost its combat preparedness.