Iran’s Revolutionary Guards are conducting military exercises in the western part of the country, which are set to continue until Tuesday, according to Iran’s state news agency.
The drills, which began on Friday, are taking place in the western province of Kermanshah, near the border with Iraq. The exercises aim to “enhance combat readiness and vigilance,” a military officer told the IRNA.
These exercises occur as Iran has vowed to retaliate against Israel following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31.
Both Iran and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas have accused Israel of orchestrating the assassination. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied involvement in the killing, which has heightened fears that the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza could escalate across the broader Middle East.
Iranian media reported that on Friday, the deputy commander of the Revolutionary Guards, Ali Fadavi, stated that Iran’s Supreme Leader’s directives for a strong response to Israel and revenge for Haniyeh’s death are clear and will be carried out “in the best possible way.”
