Iran began eight days of war games Sunday in the Gulf's Strait of Hormuz and Sea of Oman with a delegation from Oman on hand as observers, a military spokesman announced.
General Mohammad Golverdi, cited by state radio, said the Unity-79 exercises were including some 8,000 troops from different units of the elite Revolutionary Guards as well as regular military forces.
The first day's games include aerial and submarine operations as well as technical preparations for missile tests, Golverdi said, adding that "support for the Palestinian Intifada (uprising)" was one of the "chief messages" of the maneuvers.
He said the games were also aimed at "establishing security and stability in this part of the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman."
The police coast guard and the Guards' naval air force are taking part for the first time, he said, while earlier reports have said an anti-ship missile manufactured by the Guards is also to be tested during the games.
Some 130 ships and 58 planes and helicopters are to participate -- TEHRAN (AFP)
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