TEHRAN, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- The naval forces of Iran and Russia on Thursday held a joint drill in the Gulf of Oman and the northern Indian Ocean, successfully carrying out a series of operations.
During the exercise, the special operation teams of the navies of Iran's army, Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), and Russia successfully carried out an operation to liberate a hijacked ship, according to a report published on the Iranian army's website.
The vessels and aerial units of the two countries also took part in the operation, which involved aerial reconnaissance, surface operations and the capture of pirates, the report said.
It added that this stage of the exercise featured the participation of Iran's Alvand destroyer, missile-launching warships, helicopters, landing craft, special operation teams, and combat speed-boats and vessels, among others.
They enacted different arrangement scenarios and implemented offensive formations to improve tactical coordination, increase joint command and control capabilities, and practice rapid response in operational conditions, the report said.
It added that at this stage, the involved units practiced various deployment methods and combined maneuvers.
Hassan Maqsoudlou, the drill's spokesman, said the drill aims to improve maritime security, expand cooperation between the two countries' navies, and improve coordination in joint operations, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported Wednesday.
The joint drill was launched following a drill by the IRGC in the Strait of Hormuz, which involved a temporary closure of the strategic waterway on Tuesday, and amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States as well as a U.S. military buildup in the region. ■