Iran's Navy simulates enemy invasion

Ynetnews

Iran on Saturday tested the operational capabilities of its warships, submarines, and aircraft as part of an extensive naval drill held in the region surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.

News outlets in the Islamic Republic reported that on the second day of the "Velayat 91" drill the Navy simulated an enemy invasion of Iran's territorial waters.

Rear Admiral Amir Rastegari, a spokesman for the Navy, was quoted by the Fars News Agency as saying that Iran's Tareq super heavy submarine, which was recently upgraded, was put back into operation during Saturday's maneuvers.

According to the report, the admiral said Navy choppers and speed boats also planted mines meant to target potential enemy vessels and block attacks in Iran's territorial waters.

Rastegari said the naval fleets also practiced coastal defense tactics to counter an invasion of potential enemy ships.

The admiral said the maneuvers were conducted successfully, adding that the "Navy proved today that it is able to confront enemy even if it advances up to the coasts of Iran's territorial waters."

The war games were kicked off on Friday and were set to last six days.

According to Fars, Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said Friday that the naval drills would span across the Strait of Hormuz, the Sea of Oman, north of the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Aden and Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.