Iranian Revolutionary Guard General Dies in an Autogiro Accident

A general view of the Iranian capital Tehran after several explosions were heard, October 26, 2024. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters file photo
A general view of the Iranian capital Tehran after several explosions were heard, October 26, 2024. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters file photo
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Iranian Revolutionary Guard General Dies in an Autogiro Accident

A general view of the Iranian capital Tehran after several explosions were heard, October 26, 2024. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters file photo
A general view of the Iranian capital Tehran after several explosions were heard, October 26, 2024. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters file photo

An Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander and his pilot were killed Monday in an autogiro accident during an operation near the Pakistani border, state TV reported.

The report said that Gen. Hamid Mazandarani died during a military operation in the Sirkan border area, located in Sistan and Baluchistan province.

The semi-official Tasnim news agency said that the crash occurred during a drill.

An autogiro, resembling a helicopter in rotor design but simpler and smaller, is typically used in Iran for pilot training and border monitoring. It is capable of carrying two people.



Philippine President Says Russian Submarine 'Worrisome'

The Russian submarine, pictured on November 28 by the Philippine military. Handout / AFP
The Russian submarine, pictured on November 28 by the Philippine military. Handout / AFP
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Philippine President Says Russian Submarine 'Worrisome'

The Russian submarine, pictured on November 28 by the Philippine military. Handout / AFP
The Russian submarine, pictured on November 28 by the Philippine military. Handout / AFP

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos on Monday described as "very worrisome" the presence of a Russian attack submarine off the country's coast in the disputed South China Sea.
The UFA 490 submarine was spotted 148 kilometers (92 miles) west of Cape Calavite on Thursday, the Philippine military said.
"Any intrusion into the West Philippine Sea, of our EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone), of our baselines is very worrisome," Marcos told reporters.
The Philippines dispatched a plane and a warship to the submarine, where the crew said they were awaiting good weather before proceeding to Russia's Vladivostok, the Philippine Navy said in a Monday statement.
Roy Vincent Trinidad, spokesman for the navy in the South China Sea, said the incident is "not alarming".
"But we were surprised because this is a very unique submarine," he told AFP.
The 74-metre (243-foot) long vessel is armed with a missile system that has a range of 12,000 kilometers, according to Russia's state-run TASS news agency.
The submarine was last seen in Philippine waters on Sunday, Trinidad said.
Russia's embassy in Manila and the Philippine foreign ministry did not immediately respond to AFP requests to comment on the matter.