Iran launched ballistic and cruise missiles at simulated targets close to the Persian Gulf on Friday, as reported, during an exercise designed to deter external threats.
These drills, conducted by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Navy, commenced on Thursday in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman, sources indicated.
According to the news agency, Iranian state media reported a substantial launch on Friday involving Qadr 110, Qadr 380, and Qadr 360 cruise missiles, along with various ballistic missiles, all aimed at targets within the Gulf of Oman.
Television footage captured the moment of the missile launches and their subsequent impact on designated targets.
State media asserted that the exercises showcased the “unwavering spirit and resistance” of Iranian sailors when facing threats, a statement also reported by Reuters.
This drill marks the second such exercise following the conflict in June that resulted in the deaths of nearly 1,100 individuals in Iran, among them military commanders and nuclear scientists. Separately, Iranian missile attacks claimed 28 lives in Israel.
Since the cessation of hostilities, Iran has progressively affirmed its preparedness to counteract any prospective Israeli aggression. Iran conducted its initial naval exercise in the region back in August.
Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard primarily oversees operations within the Persian Gulf and its constricted opening, the Strait of Hormuz, while the national navy is responsible for the Sea of Oman and further afield.
Iran has consistently issued threats to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway through which 20% of the world’s traded oil transits, as reported by The Associated Press.
The U.S. Navy, through its Bahrain-based 5th Fleet, has long maintained patrols in the Middle East to ensure the continued openness of these waterways.