Iran announced today that it has successfully launched a drone-based air defense exercise designed to intercept hostile targets in an area extending from its southwestern to southeastern coasts, amidst escalating tensions in the region. Pakistan conducted air strikes yesterday targeting what it described as separatist militants in an attack inside Iran, just two days after Tehran announced it had bombed the bases of another group within Pakistani territory. The recent exchanges of strikes are the largest of their kind in years and have raised concerns about the growing scope of tensions in the Middle East following the outbreak of war between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic resistance movement (Hamas) on October 7. According to Iran's Press TV, a military spokesperson stated, "Iranian forces successfully launched a new air defense strategy utilizing drones to intercept and target hostile objectives."
The military exercises, which began yesterday and will last for two days, cover an area from the city of Abadan in Khuzestan province in southwestern Iran to Chabahar in Sistan and Baluchestan province in southeastern Iran, bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan. Press TV reported that the air and naval forces of both the Iranian army and the Revolutionary Guards participated in the military drills. There is a history of strained relations between Iran and Pakistan, but both countries have expressed a desire to ease tensions following this week's attacks. In light of the war in Gaza, Iran and allied armed groups in the Middle East have launched attacks against Israeli and American targets in the region in solidarity with the Palestinians. Iran has also carried out strikes in Syria against what it claimed were ISIS positions and in Iraq targeting what it described as an Israeli espionage center.
