Great Prophet XIV

The Great Prophet XIV (Persian: پیامبر اعظم ۱۴‎) was an Iranian military exercise that took place in the Persian Gulf region from 28 to 30 July 2020, involving the Navy and the Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Great Prophet XIV
TypeMilitary exercise
Locations
Persian Gulf

26.523892°N 56.382047°E / 26.523892; 56.382047
Strait of Hormuz

26.292639°N 54.501778°E / 26.292639; 54.501778
Commanded byMaj. Gen. Hossein Salami
Date28–30 July 2020
Executed byNavy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
Replica carrier
Faror

Major events

Underground missile tests

During the exercise, Iran fired underground ballistic missiles for the first time, claiming carrying out such an operation for "the first time in the world".[1]

Su-22 bombings

During the exercise, Sukhoi Su-22 fighter jets bombed predetermined targets on Faror Island.[1] The Sukhoi Su-22s are based at Shiraz, 500 kilometers away from the Strait of Hormuz[2] and had been overhauled two years earlier, after decades of being grounded.[3] The aircraft also released glide bombs against naval targets.[2]

Attacks on replica aircraft carrier

Iran had repaired its replica of a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier –which had suffered significant damage during the Great Prophet IX five years earlier– before the exercise.[4] Satellite images provided by Maxar Technologies suggested that the mock carrier –carrying 16 mock-ups of fighter jets on its deck– was pulled by a tugboat on 27 July to the drill site.[5]

Aftermath

On 29 July, firing a ballistic missile resulted in American troops –stationed at Al Udeid Air Base (located in Qatar) and Al Dhafra Air Base (located in United Arab Emirates)– seeking cover, while the two bases were kilometers away from the exercise site.[6]

Reactions

Cmdr. Rebecca Rebarich, a spokesperson for the United States Fifth Fleet said "[w]hile we are always watchful of this type of irresponsible and reckless behavior by Iran in the vicinity of busy international waterways, this exercise has not disrupted coalition operations in the area nor had any impacts to the free flow of commerce in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters".[6]

See also

References
  1. "Iran fires underground ballistic missiles for first time", Al Jazeera, 29 July 2020, retrieved 25 August 2020
  2. Nadimi, Farzin (10 August 2020), "Iran Applies Maximum Power to Annual IRGC Naval Exercise", The Washington Institute for Near East Policy (PolicyWatch) (3362), retrieved 25 August 2020
  3. de Bruijn, Stephan (February 2019), "Kish Delights", Combat Aircraft Monthly, 20 (2): 24–27
  4. Trevithick, Joseph (28 July 2020), "Iran Fires Missiles At Its Fake Carrier, Says Its Satellite Has Been Watching From Above", The Drive, retrieved 25 August 2020
  5. Gambrell, Jon (27 July 2020), "Iran moves mock aircraft carrier to sea amid US tensions", Associated Press, retrieved 25 August 2020
  6. Gambrell, Jon; Vahdat, Amir; Nasiri, Mohammad (29 July 2020), "Iran missiles target fake carrier as US bases go on alert", Associated Press, retrieved 25 August 2020
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