Iran holds military drill in southwest
Khuzestan province has a presence of Arab separatist groups and is strategically located near Iraq and the Persian Gulf.
The Iranian military held a military drill near the Iraqi border on Thursday.
The elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) conducted the war games exercise in the southwest Khuzestan province, which is located atop the Persian Gulf. Ground forces, tank divisions, drone units and paratroopers participated in the drill, the semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported.
Iran regularly holds military drills in the strategic Gulf region. On Jan. 19, the Iranian army conducted a ground forces exercise in the Gulf of Oman. Some recent drills have been focused on simulating a war with the United States.
Iranian military leaders have continued to speak boldly on tensions with Washington since US President Joe Biden was sworn into office. On Jan. 26, an IRGC commander said Iran has the ability to “destroy American ships.” Biden hopes to re-enter the Iran nuclear deal, but his administration and Iran disagree on whether Iran should return to compliance first.
