IRGC Launches Military Exercise on Re-deployment of Combat Forces in Abu Musa Island

Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy's speedboats move during an exercise in Abu Musa Island, in this picture obtained on August 2, 2023. (Tasnim)
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy's speedboats move during an exercise in Abu Musa Island, in this picture obtained on August 2, 2023. (Tasnim)
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IRGC Launches Military Exercise on Re-deployment of Combat Forces in Abu Musa Island

Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy's speedboats move during an exercise in Abu Musa Island, in this picture obtained on August 2, 2023. (Tasnim)
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy's speedboats move during an exercise in Abu Musa Island, in this picture obtained on August 2, 2023. (Tasnim)

The Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) launched a military exercise on Abu Musa Island, one of three disputed islands claimed by the UAE.

The IRGC Navy and the Basij militia took part in the war game on the deployment of combat forces. It included inaugurating new boats and launching cruise missiles and drones.

The exercise aims to show “the power and combat defense readiness of the IRGC Navy in protecting the security of the Gulf ... and ... islands and it includes the use of “locally manufactured equipment and systems in the defense-based industries.”

In this exercise, the vessels of the special unit of Martyr Hojjaji that are equipped with 600-km long-range missiles were taking part to defend the island's territory, said Tasnim news agency.

Hojjaji is the name of an IRGC members who was killed in Syria.

The news agency gave no details about the missiles.

IRGC-affiliated media reported that the exercise is dubbed "Eshaq Dara" after a commander who was killed in clashes with the US forces during the Tanker War in the Gulf during the Iran-Iraq War.

The drill focused on Abu Musa Island and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs which are near the Straits of Hormuz.

Iranian media released footage and images as part of the propaganda that usually goes hand in hand with military exercises.

The commander-in-chief of the IRGC, Major General Hossein Salami, and the IRGC Navy's commander, Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, headed to Musa Island ahead of the maneuvers.

“We always try for security and tranquility; it is our way,” Salami, said in a televised address during the drill.

“Our nation is vigilant, and it gives harsh responses to all threats, complicated seditions, and secret scenarios and hostilities.”

Salami considered that all “the riots, divisions, and tensions are the outcome of US policy and the Zionist entity.”

"The islands ... are part of Iran's honor, and we will defend them," Tangsiri said, adding that Gulf security needed to be provided by regional countries.

The “Gulf belongs to all of the region's countries ... These states must be very prudent and prevent themselves from falling into the conspiracies and divisive plans of extra-regional countries," he added.

Tasnim quoted Brigadier General Ali Ozmaei, the Commander of the IRGC Navy, as saying that 1,500 members including 30 men from the Basij militia were deployed in the military exercise.

"In this exercise, Basiji fighters were quickly dispatched to Abu Musa Island by aircraft and light and heavy vessels to defend the Island, and after being transported by air and sea, the fighters were deployed in predetermined positions to defend the Island," Ozmaei added.

He went on to say that 50 soldiers participated in the training on “air assault” with helicopters, remarking the use of air and sea drones, launchers and missile launchers, and Zulfiqar boats carrying missiles on board.

Meanwhile, Iran has been trying to signal its displeasure with recent comments about the islands made by Russia.

Russia earlier this summer in a joint statement with the Gulf Cooperation Council called for "bilateral negotiations or the International Court of Justice" to decide who should control the islands.

Last month, the United States sent additional F-35 and F-16 fighter jets, along with a warship to the Middle East, in a bid to monitor waterways in the region following Iran's seizure of commercial shipping vessels in recent months.

The Pentagon dispatched the troop-and-aircraft-carrying USS Bataan to the Gulf to protect navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

For the US, keeping the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping remains a priority to ensure global energy prices don’t spike, particularly as Russia’s war on Ukraine pressures markets, said The Associated Press this week.



Beijing Complains to Tokyo about ‘Negative’ China References in Japan, US Communique

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba holds a picture with US President Donald Trump during a joint press conference in the East Room at the White House in Washington, US, February 7, 2025. (Reuters)
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba holds a picture with US President Donald Trump during a joint press conference in the East Room at the White House in Washington, US, February 7, 2025. (Reuters)
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Beijing Complains to Tokyo about ‘Negative’ China References in Japan, US Communique

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba holds a picture with US President Donald Trump during a joint press conference in the East Room at the White House in Washington, US, February 7, 2025. (Reuters)
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba holds a picture with US President Donald Trump during a joint press conference in the East Room at the White House in Washington, US, February 7, 2025. (Reuters)

China's foreign ministry said on Monday it had complained to Japan over "negative" references to China in a statement issued after a meeting between the leaders of Japan and the United States.

The "stern representations" and "strong dissatisfaction" was conveyed by the Department of Asian Affairs Director-General Liu Jinsong to the Japanese embassy's Chargé d'Affaires in Beijing, who explained to Liu Japan's position and reiterated the country's stance on its various concerns.

The embassy's statement did not elaborate on the discussions.

US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba held their first meeting last week in Washington.

According to a joint statement released by the White House, the two leaders expressed views opposing China's military actions in the South and East China Seas.

They also called for "maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait", and voiced support for "Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations."

Asked about the joint statement, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun accused it of "attacking and discrediting" China and said it was "open interference in China's internal affairs". The statement exacerbated regional tensions, he added.

"We urge the United States and Japan to abide by the one-China principle and their own commitments and immediately stop interfering in China's internal affairs," Guo said.

China views democratically-ruled Taiwan its own territory, and has staged several rounds of war games around the island in recent years to pressure Taipei.

Taiwan's government, which strongly objects to Beijing's sovereignty claims and says only the island's people can decide their future, welcomed the joint Japan-US communique.

"We will remain steadfast in cooperating with the US, Japan and other global partners to advance regional peace and prosperity," President Lai Ching-te said in a post on X.