Iranian Army Launches Amphibious Operations

Iranian Army launched amphibious operations during the third
phase of a six-staged naval maneuver, codenamed Vellayat 89, in the Strait
of Hormuz and northern Indian Ocean.

The third phase started Saturday in the Persian Gulf, Sea of Oman and the
northern Indian Ocean displaying the combat power of speed boat units of the
Iranian Army.

The Saturday drills also featured special operations of marine forces as
well as surveillance flights of Army's remote-controlled aircraft.

The Army's Navy is to launch electronic and anti-electronic warfare using
distracters and alarm signalers in this phase.

The forces would also manage to disrupt the hypothetical enemy's connection
lines and keep the lines open for themselves.

The naval exercise kicked off last Wednesday and will last 8 days.

Last Tuesday, Iranian Army's Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari
told reporters that the wargames aim to demonstrate Iran's power in high
seas and southern waters, expand Iran's presence in high seas, have full
control on shipping activities in the area of the wargames, provide maritime
security, confront terrorism and threats to environment, provide the Iranian
Armed Forces with combat support, promote combat capability and enhance
coordination among forces.

Sayyari also announced that the Navy plans to use Iran's first home-made
destroyer, Jamaran, and other newly-developed military tools and equipments
in the wargames a bid to test the Navy's achievements.

Earlier in April, IRGC started a four-staged maneuver in the Persian Gulf
and the Strait of Hormuz, codenamed as Payambar-e Azam (The Great Messenger)
5, to boost vigilance and combat preparedness of its naval forces.

Tens of ground, air and naval units of the IRGC participated in the
exercises which were aimed at preserving security in the Persian Gulf and
the Strait of Hormuz.

In the last stage of the military exercises, different long-range
coast-to-sea, sea-to-sea and mid-range coast-to-sea missiles were fired at a
single target from different distances simultaneously.

The Strait of Hormuz, the entrance to the strategic Persian Gulf waterway,
is a major oil shipping route. An estimated 40 percent of the world's oil
supply passes through the waterway.