Monday, October 20, 2008 Free Headline Alerts
NICOSIA — Iran has concluded another major air combat exercise and charged that the West is expanding intelligence operations against the regime.
Officials said the exercise lasted from Oct. 16 through Oct. 20 in northwestern Iran near Turkey. They said the multi-phase exercise, titled "Devotees of the Guardianship," tested new air-to-air missiles as well as combat maneuvers.
Officials said the exercises were meant to protect against an Israeli or U.S. strike on Iran's nuclear facilities. The officials said Iran has detected an upsurge in Western intelligence efforts.
On Oct. 20, the Iranian newspaper Etemad Melli reported that foreign intelligence agencies were believed to have used pigeons to spy on the nuclear program. The newspaper said two pigeons, wearing metral rings and string, were caught near Iran's uranium enrichment facility in Natanz.
"Early this month, a black pigeon was caught bearing a blue-coated metal ring, with invisible strings," an Iranian source told Etemad Melli.
"The last phase of the maneuvers was completed successfully, and the participating aircraft accurately struck their targets," Iranian military spokesman Brig. Gen. Hussein Chitforoush said.
In an Oct. 20 statement, Chitforoush said the U.S.-origin F-14 and the Iranian-origin Lightning aircraft participated in the exercise. The brigadier said Iran fired indigenous precision-guided missiles from a range of fighter-jets. He said Iranian pilots also operated amid anti-aircraft fire.
"At this stage, F-14 aircraft held the last phase of their tactical flights," Chitforoush said. "Unmanned aircraft, reconnaissance, electronic tracking and Saiqeh [Lightning], all been built by the capable personnel of this force, were demonstrated at this stage of the maneuvers."
Officials said this was the second major air exercise in Iran since August 2008. The first exercise was said to have focused on air defense and included a range of Russian-origin surface-to-air missiles.
"Thank God, Iran enjoys brave and committed armed forces leading to strong national sovereignty," Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei said. "The enemies have repeatedly confessed that the Islamic Iran and its armed forces are in the most powerful status."