Iran to hold military drills in Persian Gulf

Iran's air force will start military drills over the Persian Gulf on Friday, local media reported on Thursday. Deputy Commander of Iran's air force Brigadier General Alireza Barkhor told reporters on Thursday that units from all air force bases are taking part in the drill, according to Press TV. The two-day exercise, codenamed Fadaian-e Harim-e Velayat 4 ( Defenders of Velayat Sanctuary 4), is part of annual exercises aimed at testing indigenous air defense systems, improving the units' combat readiness and displaying the country's military might and achievements, Barkhor said. Air-to-air combat and targeting flying objects form the " technical core" of the drill in which different types of fighters, transport aircraft and reconnaissance planes will partake, he was quoted as saying.