IRGC Begins Second Phase of Naval Drill with Missiles and Drones

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards launched the second phase of a naval drill on Friday, firing volleys of ballistic and cruise missiles at targets in the Oman Sea.

Qadr 110, Qadr 380 and Qadir cruise missiles, along with the 303 ballistic missile, were fired from locations inside Iran and struck preselected targets at sea, according to the state media, The Caspian Post reports citing Iranian media.

Drone units also carried out attacks on simulated enemy bases, and naval air defense systems practiced responses to aerial threats against fast boats and coastal positions.

The exercise is taking place in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and around Iran’s southern islands, waters where Iranian officials have at times said traffic could be restricted during periods of tension.

The IRGC Navy has said the drill is named after Mohammad Nazeri, a commander and founder of the force’s special operations unit who was killed in 2016. Earlier this week, the navy announced the exercise would run for two days and extend across the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, the Oman Sea and nearby islands.

Officials say the drill includes testing combat systems, electronic warfare defenses and operations in simulated wartime conditions.

The naval drill follows Sahand 2025, a five day counter terrorism exercise led by IRGC Ground Forces in East Azarbaijan province under the Shanghai Cooperation Organization framework. That drill was designed with support from Iran’s foreign ministry and the SCO’s Regional Anti Terrorist Structure and focuses on what the bloc calls terrorism, separatism and extremism.