IRGC Ground Forces to stage new war games

TEHRAN,Feb.13(MNA) – The ground troops of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) will stage new war games by the end of the current Iranian calendar year which ends on March 19, 2012, IRGC Ground Forces Commander Mohammad Pakpour announced on Sunday. The purpose of new war games is to enhance IRGC forces’ military capabilities to repel possible military threats against the country, he said. The maneuvers will be the third round of IRGC war games in the current Iranian calendar year. In early February, IRGC ground troops carried out the Supporters of Velayat maneuvers in southern Iran. The purpose of the maneuvers was announced to be enhancing military capabilities of intelligence and combat units of ground troops to maintain security in various situations. In January, IRGC ground troops held the Martyrs to Unity war games in eastern Iran. In the preliminary stage of the Martyrs to Unity war games, cavalry, mechanized, and combat units of the IRGC Ground Forces spread out across the theater of operation and destroyed mock enemy targets using tactics of asymmetric warfare. In the main stage of the maneuvers, IRGC commandoes practiced shooting down mock enemy drones and attacked on mock enemy positions with heavy fire. IRGC air defense units also targeted flying aircraft at low altitudes using shoulder-fired missiles.