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On Guard for the Country: Iran Holds Annual Military Drills in Gulf of Oman

Sputnik

Prior to the start of the drills, Tehran warned all foreign forces to maintain distance from the area of the manoeuvres. At the same time, according to Iranian military officials, on the first day of the drills, Iran’s Army witnessed various concentrated activities of US unmanned aircraft that were apparently collecting information about the war game.

The same day, the country's army used the domestically produced Fateh (conqueror)-class submarine for the first time ever. The submarine, which joined the navy at Bandar Abbas in 2019, conducted reconnaissance and operational patrols in the general zone of ​​the manoeuvres.

On the second day of the exercise, the Iranian Navy fired domestically made coast-to-sea Qader cruise missiles. The missiles, launched from onshore sites, hit naval targets at a distance of 200 km.

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Iranian servicemen fire rockets during annual military drills, dubbed “Zolphaghar 99”, in the Gulf of Oman, Iran on 7 September 2020.
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Iranian paratroopers take part in annual military drills, dubbed “Zolphaghar 99”, in the Gulf of Oman, Iran on 8 September 2020.
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An Iranian serviceman takes part in annual military drills, dubbed “Zolphaghar 99”, in the Gulf of Oman, Iran on 8 September 2020.
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An Iranian tank being deployed from a transport vessel during annual military drills in the Gulf of Oman.
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Iranian servicemen take part in annual military drills, dubbed “Zolphaghar 99”, in the Gulf of Oman, Iran on 7 September 2020.
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A missile is launched during annual military drills, dubbed “Zolphaghar 99”, in the Gulf of Oman with the participation of the Iranian Navy, Air Force, and Army in Iran on 8 September 2020.
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Iranian servicemen take part in annual military drills, dubbed “Zolphaghar 99”, in the Gulf of Oman, Iran on 7 September 2020.
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Iranian soldiers getting out of a helicopter during annual military drills dubbed “Zolphaghar 99”.
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An Iranian serviceman takes part in annual military drills, dubbed “Zolphaghar 99”, in the Gulf of Oman, Iran on 7 September 2020.
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Iranian troops land on the beach during annual military drills dubbed “Zolphaghar 99”.
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Iranian servicemen fire rockets during annual military drills, dubbed “Zolphaghar 99”, in the Gulf of Oman, Iran on 8 September, 2020.
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Iranian soldiers riding motorbikes as part of annual military drills dubbed “Zolphaghar 99”.
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