Iran has staged massive war games with 200 helicopters, rocket launchers, tanks and troops amid heightened tensions over Gaza.
The machines and troops were deployed by the Islamic Republic for the exercise dubbed ‘Authority 1402’.
It comes as tensions rise in the Middle East – after the IDF warned Palestinians to evacuate the south now as it vowed to ‘neutralize’ Hamas with a threatened full-scale invasion.
Meanwhile, fears are growing that Iran could join the conflict – with the commander-in-chief of the Iranian military, Abdolrahim Mousavi, saying they are “always ready to deal with threats”, according to Iranian state media.
Israel launched a massive attack on Gaza last night, with troops and tanks driving across the border after a massive airstrike.
Missiles are launched in Iran’s central Isfahan province
Iran has staged massive war games with 200 helicopters, rocket launchers, tanks and troops
The Iranian army’s commander-in-chief said the exercises took place in light of ‘impending threats’
There are fears that Iran will intervene directly or through its proxy terror groups such as Hezbollah, The sun reported.
Tehran’s military launched the exercises, tested new bombs and attacked helicopters.
Choppers launched missiles and destroyed the so-called enemy using night vision systems.
Commander Mousavi said the exercises were intended to demonstrate the military’s capabilities and highlight the country’s “defense and combat authority.”
Today, Israeli tanks rolled into Gaza as a full-scale ground invasion looms.
A short 15-second video released by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) showed armored vehicles gathering in what the military says is Palestinian territory on Saturday, as a spokesperson said: ‘The armed forces are still on the ground and continuing the war .’
Targets explode and cause a massive fire during a ground exercise
Military helicopters are pictured during a ground forces exercise
It came as the IDF said it had killed Asem Abu Rakaba, the alleged architect of Hamas’s air raid on the country three weeks ago, and maritime commander Ratab Abu Tshaiban in some of the overnight attacks on 150 “underground targets” were executed.
Israel’s devastating retaliation campaign, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is at its most intense level yet, amid a communications blackout that has left Gaza in a state of ‘panic, fear and chaos,’ according to BBC correspondent Rushi Abualouf.
Cutting off access to electricity, internet and telephone signals has cut off citizens, aid organizations and journalists in the enclave from the world – and the families of hostages who demand answers.
In a statement on Abu Rakaba was responsible for Hamas’s UAVs, drones, paragliders, aerial detection and defense.
“He took part in the planning of the October 7 massacre and commanded the terrorists who infiltrated Israel with paragliders and was responsible for the drone attacks on IDF posts.”