New Iranian maneuvers on Afghanistan borders

Iranian television today reported that major Iranian military maneuvers began today on the borders of Afghanistan, the largest maneuvers of their kind held by the Iranian army till now.

About 200,000 soldiers will take part in the maneuvers at a time the tensions between the two countries are aggravated after the victories by the Taleban movement in Afghanistan and the murder of Iranian diplomats and reporters during August.

Presenting a part of the military training, Iranian television said the first maneuvers will cover an area of 50,000 square kilometers, where a battalion of Iranian forces appeared on the screen launching a mock attack.

Iranian Minister of Defense Ali Shamkhani confirmed last week that about 200,000 soldiers will take part in these maneuvers, which were preceded by similar maneuvers made by 70,000 members of the Revolutionary Guard, who were sent to the Afghanistan border region after the maneuvers.