Strictly Warns Israel, Iran's IRGC Commander: Differences In Military Exercises And Operations Only From Missile Launching Angles

JAKARTA - Large-scale military drills by Iran this week aim to give a serious warning to arch-foe Israel, a top military official in Tehran has said.

The five-day military exercise dubbed 'Great Prophet 17' was held along the coastline of the Hormozgan, Bushehr and Khuzestan provinces in southern Iran, ending on Friday.

In addition, the war games take place amid ongoing nuclear talks in Vienna, Austria as well as amid rising tensions between Iran and Israel.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the exercise, Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) General Hossein Salami said the exercise this time was held to send a very clear message as well as a serious and real warning to Tel Aviv.

"We will cut off their hands if they make the wrong move," he said, with a stern warning, quoted from Yenisafak December 26.

"The difference between actual operations and military exercises is only a change in the angle of the missile launch," he stressed.

On the same occasion, Major General Mohammad Bagheri, chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces who also commented on the launch of 16 ballistic missiles on the last day of the exercise, said it was done in response to what he called an empty Israeli threat.

The five-day military exercise involved the IRGC's ground, navy and air force personnel. The final day of the exercise also involved launching combat drones, targeting designated targets.

In addition, on the last day, the IRGC's aerospace division launched 16 ballistic missiles, all of which hit their targets, said the commander of the IRGC's aerospace unit, General Amir Ali Hajizadeh.

The large-scale drills come amid rising tensions between Tehran and Tel Aviv and recent threats by senior Israeli officials, including warnings that Israeli forces would strike Iran's main nuclear facility.

Citing unnamed security sources, Nour News, which is affiliated with Iran's main security agency, said last week Israel was considering "crimes" against Iran, apparently to thwart ongoing talks in Vienna.

It comes days after Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz announced he ordered the Israeli military to prepare for a possible military strike against Iran during his visit to the United Arab Emirates.

Gantz's remarks came after the head of Israel's spy agency Mossad, David Bernea, insisted Tel Aviv would do "whatever it takes" to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power.

To note, last month Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett also signaled his country's readiness to confront Tehran, saying a deal in Vienna would not prevent that.

"Iran is much more vulnerable than is generally thought," he said at an event.

It is planned that the eighth round of talks between Iran and major world powers including Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany will resume in Vienna on Monday, amid uncertainty over the outcome.