Iran's warning shot to Israel: Islamic Republic stages massive war games with 200 helicopters, missile launchers, tanks and troops amid heightened tensions over Gaza
By Katherine Lawton
Daily Mail
Oct 23, 2023
Missiles are pictured launching in Iran's central province of Isfahan
Iran has staged massive war games with 200 helicopters, missile launchers, tanks and troops amid heightened tensions over Gaza.
The machinery and troops were deployed by the Islamic Republic for the exercise which was branded 'Authority 1402'.
It comes as tensions grow in the Middle East - after the IDF warned Palestinians to evacuate the south now as it vows to 'neutralise' Hamas with a looming full scale invasion.
Meanwhile fears are growing that Iran could join the conflict - with Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Army Abdolrahim Mousavi saying they are 'always ready to deal with threats,' according to Iranian state media.
Israel launched a huge raid into Gaza last night with troops and tanks travelling across the border after an enormous aerial blitz.
Iran has staged massive war games with 200 helicopters, missile launchers, tanks and troops
The Iranian Army's commander-in-chief said the exercises happened in the face of 'upcoming threats
It is feared Iran will intervene directly or by its proxy terror groups such as Hezbollah, The Sun reported.
Tehran's military launched the drills and tested new bombs and attacked helicopters.
Choppers launched missiles and destroyed the pretend enemy using night vision systems.
Commander Mousavi said the exercises were meant to show the army's capabilities and highlight the country's 'defence and combat authority'.
Today Israeli tanks have rolled into Gaza as a full ground invasion looms.
A short 15-second video released by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) showed armoured vehicles gathered in what the military says is Palestinian territory on Saturday, as a spokesperson said: 'The forces are still on the ground and are continuing the war.'
Targets explode and cause a huge blaze amid a ground force drill
Military helicopters are pictured during a ground force drill
It came as the IDF said it killed Asem Abu Rakaba, the alleged architect of Hamas' aerial incursion into the country three weeks ago, and maritime commander Ratab Abu Tshaiban in some of the raids carried out on 150 'underground targets' overnight.
Israel's devastating retaliation campaign, led by prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is at its most intense level yet, amid a communications blackout that has left Gaza in 'a state of 'panic, fear and chaos', according to BBC correspondent Rushi Abualouf.
The cessation of access to electricity, internet and phone signal has civilians, aid agencies and journalists inside the enclave cut off from the world - and the families of hostages demanding answers.
In a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, the IDF said: 'Overnight, IDF fighter jets struck Asem Abu Rakaba, the Head of Hamas' Aerial Array. Abu Rakaba was responsible for Hamas' UAVs, drones, paragliders, aerial detection and defense.
'He took part in planning the October 7 massacre and commanded the terrorists who infiltrated Israel on paragliders and was responsible for the drone attacks on IDF posts.'
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