Iran started a massive, two-day air defence drill in its sprawling central desert, on October 12, 2021.

Highlights

• In the annual manoeuvres called Velyat, both the army and the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard were taking earlier.
• Now, elite air force, air defense units and the Guard’s airspace division would participate in the drill.
• Iran regularly holds such drills in order to assess the troops’ combat reading readiness and demonstrate its military capabilities.

Background

• Earlier in October, Iran had held a drill near its border with Azerbaijan. During the drill, it displayed military capabilities near a neighbour, for which Iran is increasingly skeptical for its ties to the West and Israel.
• This military drill was conducted in the light that, Azerbaijan and Israel have strengthened their military alliance in the recent months. Israel supplies high-tech drones to help Azerbaijan in its conflict with Armenia on Nagorno-Karabakh region.
• The Nagorno-Karabakh region remained on edge over Iran’s escalating nuclear programme.