Iranian women hold military exercises in Ardabil Province

Female members of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) held two-day military exercises in the Iranian province of Ardabil on 31 July and 1 August. The exercises were held by the Al-Zahra battalion of the IRGC's Ardabil Corps in the province's Somarin region, provincial TV reported on 31 July.

Guards Corps Col Esfandiyar Hushyar said in an interview with the TV station that more than three Al-Zahra battalions participated in the fourth stage of the Labbayk Ya Husayn tactical exercises. The Al-Zahra battalions practised the skills they acquired during the year, he added.

These exercises focused on first aid and other special programmes, Hushyar said.

He said that the goal of these exercises was to increase the level of preparedness and mobilization, maintain unity and cooperation, and to assess the current level of preparedness, provincial TV reported.

The TV report also showed exercises, women practising field firing and interviews with female Basij members.

Meanwhile, Fars news agency reported that the exercises came to an end on 1 August.

The agency quoted Hushyar as saying at the closing ceremony that apart from carrying out different military exercises, the Basij members attended ideological and political lessons on the situation in the country and the region.

He praised the high level of preparedness of the Basij forces, including the Ashura, Al-Zahra, Karbala, Zolfeqar battalions, and said that the enemies cannot sleep easy in their beds after they saw the power of these forces, Fars reported. We are not afraid of enemy threats and the Basij forces are ready to fight any enemy threats, the agency quoted him as saying.

Source: Vision of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ardabil Provincial TV, Ardabil, in Persian 1445 gmt 31 Jul 08; Fars News Agency website, Tehran, in Persian 1011 gmt 1 Aug 08