On Friday, Iran announced the successful execution of an air defense drill utilizing drones designed to intercept hostile targets. The exercise spanned from the southwestern coast to the southeastern coast, reflecting the country’s heightened concerns amid regional tensions.
In response to Tehran’s claim of striking bases within Pakistani territory, Pakistan launched retaliatory air strikes against terrorists inside Iran on Thursday. These cross-border actions mark significant intrusions, fueling concerns about broader instability in the Middle East, particularly since the outbreak of the war between Israel and Hamas on October 7.
State-run Press TV quoted an Iranian army spokesperson, stating, “Iranian forces have successfully launched a new air defense method that uses drones to intercept and target hostile targets.”
The two-day drills, initiated on Thursday, covered an extensive area from Abadan in southwestern Khuzestan province to Chahbahar in southeastern Sistan-Baluchistan province, bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan. Participants included the army’s air force and navy, as well as the aerospace force and navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).
Despite a history of strained relations between Iran and Pakistan, both nations have expressed a desire to ease tensions following the recent tit-for-tat strikes.
Against the backdrop of the conflict in Gaza, Iran and its militia allies across the Middle East have conducted attacks on Israeli and U.S. targets, expressing solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Additionally, Iran has launched strikes on Syria, targeting alleged Da’ish sites, and in Iraq, claiming to have struck an Israeli espionage center.
