Iran’s Basij Forces to Stage Nationwide Military Drills

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Battalions from the Iranian Basij (volunteer) Force are slated to hold a large-scale war game, codenamed ‘Ela Beit ul-Muqaddas’ (Towards al-Quds), across the country.

Speaking at a press conference in Tehran on Tuesday, Lieutenant Commander of Basij Force General Ali Fazli said the volunteer forces will stage the massive military drills on Thursday and Friday.

He noted that the war game will be held in 72 cities in 13 provinces, with the participation of 342 battalions.

According to the commander, more such drills will be staged in other provinces of the country by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20, 2017).

The Basij is a paramilitary volunteer force established in 1979 on the Late Founder of the Islamic Republic Imam Khomeini's order.

The force consists of often young Iranians, who have volunteered, with a strong sense of fidelity to both the Islamic system and the religious beliefs.