Ten army divisions as well as artillery, missile and electronic warfare units were taking part in the "Followers of Guardianship" exercises, said the army's ground forces commander, Brigadier General Nasser Mohammadi-Far.

The operations, backed by C-130 tactical aircrafts, were being carried out in Kermanshah, Ilam, Hamedan, Lorestan and Khuzestan provinces, covering an area of 100,000 square kilometers (3,800 square miles), the report said.