VEVAK claims arrest of two terror cells at Iranian border provinces

IEDs said by VEVAK discovered in Iran's southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan

According to PressTV, dated 21NOV15:

Iranian security forces have disbanded two terror cells, which were planning to carry out bomb attacks, in two provinces, Iran’s Intelligence Ministry [VEVAK] says.

Officials at the ministry said on Saturday that one of the terrorist groups was busted in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan.

The terrorists were planning to blow up over 150 kilograms of explosives in the form of ten bombs on the eastern Iranian border region.

Authorities added that another cell connected to groups hostile to the Islamic Republic, which had entered the country to commit acts of terror, was also smashed in West Azerbaijan Province.

Security forces also discovered and confiscated a large number of weapons and ammunition from the terror cell.

COMMENTARY: On 22NOV15 IRGC Commander Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari claimed the Salafi Jihadist terror cell arrested in West Azerbaijan Province have been linked to ISIL.

Quoted by the ISNA, the IRGC commander stated Iranian security forces were monitoring attempts by militants to "create insecurity" in Iran.

"IS has multi-layered support networks. One such network was [also] identified in Kermanshah province (in western Iran) and its members were arrested," Jafari told Iranian media reporters.

Imagery detailing IEDs planted alongside the Rāsk-Iranshahr section of Iran's Road 99

Detail of IED's, among ten discovered in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan

IRGC members at site of diffused IEDs discovered in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan

Photos: YJC.ir

NEZAJA 35th Commando Brigade, border protection duty

Iranian media depiction of NEZAJA 35th Commando Brigade members engaged in border protection duties at a forward position in Kermanshah Province:

Assembled platoon of NEZAJA 35th Commando Brigade members, night duty. Border protection duty for this elite unit now considered requisite by the threat of ISIL to the west in neighboring Iraq.

Night transfer of PKM type general purpose machine between NEZAJA 35th Commando Brigade members

Strongpoint manned by members of NEZAJA 35th Commando Brigade equipped with AKM type assault rifles

NEZAJA 35th Commando Brigade members aboard Toyota Hilux pickup truck equipped with PKM type general purpose machine gun.

Unpaved road towards high ground prepared position. Note barren topography.

Rudimentary accommodations for this forward high ground position

NEZAJA first and second sergeants attending posed lieutenant at infantry mortar position

Posed demonstration of SPG-9 Kopye (“Spear”) tripod-mounted man-portable, 73 mm recoilless gun

Infantry mortar position. Note differences in uniform, some wearing the older "duck hunter" pattern while others wearing the newer NEZAJA type. All wear the characteristic tan beret issued to members of 35th Commando Brigade.

DShKM type heavy machine gun position. Note high power binoculars of observer in background.

PKM type machine gunner of NEZAJA 35th Commando Brigade

Improvised brick and mortar constructed pillbox

Steps improvised from set cinder blocks

Exterior view of lodging for the platoon captain, cut from the mountain side 

Interior detail of private lodging for the platoon captain. Sidings appear to be rendered in stucco.

Photos: Islamic Republic News Agency

NEZAJA 'Beit al-Moghadas 27' exercises

NEZAJA Commander Brig. Gen. Ahmad Reza Pourdestan reviewing participants of Beit Al-Moghadas 27 exercise on 25MAY15 at Isfahan's Nasrabad region in central Iran.

Pourdestan is seen aboard an Iranian-manufactured Safir ("Ambassador") 4x4 light tactical vehicle, numbers of which have been supplied to Iran for the war against ISIL.

Lineup of NEZAJA T-72 type main battle tanks, of a type provided by Iran to Iraq for the war against ISIL

Movement of NEZAJA T-72 type main battle tanks, traversing what appears to be a section of Maranjab Desert

NEZAJA T-72S main battle tank Sepehr tactical vehicle fitted with ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft twin auto cannon

NEZAJA BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle, with motorized elements aboard Iranian-assembled Banihashem ATV 500s and AMICO motorbikes.

Deployed ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft twin auto cannon, with Sepehr tactical vehicle fitted with ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft twin auto cannon.

Firing exercise for NEZAJA crew of ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft twin auto cannon at fighting position

Firing of NEZAJA ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft twin auto cannon at protective position

Firing exercise for NEZAJA Safir light tactical vehicle mounting M40 recoilless rifle, of a combination type provided in number by Iran to Iraq for war against ISIL.

Note: this type's firing exercise location is identical to that used during last year's Beit Al-Moghadas 26 exercise.

Firing exercise for NEZAJA motorized team operating 9K32 “Strela-2" type MANPADS

NEZAJA 55th Airborne Special Forces Brigade members aboard Banihashem ATV 500

NEZAJA sniper team equipped with what appears to be Shaher 14.5mm anti-material rifle and possibly compact variant of Siavash 7.62mm sniper rifle.

Side detail of Shaher 14.5mm anti-material rifle and possible compact variant of Siavash 7.62mm sniper rifle

Frontal detail of Shaher 14.5mm anti-material rifle and possible compact variant of Siavash 7.62mm sniper rifle

NEZAJA crews setting up DShKM type 12.7 mm heavy machine guns

Firing exercise for NEZAJA crew of DShKM type 12.7 mm heavy machine gun

NEZAJA operators of 9K32 “Strela-2" type MANPADS

Ghods Mohajer-2 reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), of a type provided to Syrian Arab Republic in the war against armed groups including ISIL and Al-Qaeda affiliate JAN.

IRIAF Chengdu FT-7 type Airguards, right aircraft serial 3-7720

IRIAA Bell AH-1J International Cobra (209), serial 3-4485 (cn 26585) of Attack Squadron from 4th Combat and General Support Base at Badr Airbase - Isfahan.

IRIAA Bell AH-1J International Cobra (209), serial 3-4506 (cn 26606) of Attack Squadron from 4th Combat and General Support Base at Badr Airbase - Isfahan.

IRIAA Bell AH-1J International Cobra (209) "Toufan I", serial 3-4551 (cn 29011) of Attack Squadron from 4th Combat and General Support Base at Badr Airbase - Isfahan.

NEZAJA lieutenant colonel beside IRIAA captain

NEZAJA command post for Beit al-Moqaddas 27 exercise

NEZAJA officers study map detail at command post for Beit al-Moqaddas 27 exercise

Participating NEZAJA members of Beit al-Moqaddas 27 exercise at at Isfahan's Nasrabad region in central Iran

Previous stage of Beit al-Moqaddas 27 exercise conducted at Kermanshah province: NEZAJA Nazeat 10H tactical ballistic missile on raised Mercedes-Benz L-series platform 6x6 TEL.

NEZAJA Nazeat tactical ballistic missile launch Beit al-Moqaddas 27 exercise conducted at Kermanshah province.

Photos:
Hamid Reza Nikomaram at Fars News Agency
Ali Khodaei at Tasnim News Agency
Abbas Pustinduz at Mehr News Agency
Islamic Republic of Iran News Agency
Khatabshekan.ir

Tribal Basij participants in Beit al-Moghaddas exercise at Kermanshah

Iranian media photos of Tribal Basij assembled for Beit al-Moghaddas exercise taking place in Kermanshah Province, a territory situated across from Iraq's war-sticken Diyala Governate.

What appears to be Iranian Kurdish Tribal Basij members firing ZU-23-2 mounted on Iranian-built Zamyad Z24 (Nissan Junior) type "technical."

Iranian Turkmen Tribal Basij outfitted in traditional garb over Beit al-Moghaddas issue, MARPAT-inspired BDUs

Drill formation of Iranian Turkmen Tribal Basij equipped with AK-type assault rifles

Drill formation of Iranian Bakhtiari Tribal Basij equipped with AK-type assault rifles

Drill formation of Iranian Baloch Tribal Basij equipped with AK-type assault rifles (note lack of AK magazines for this tribe).

Drill formation of Iranian Arab Tribal Basij equipped with AK-type assault rifles

Merriment among Iranian Arab Tribal Basij and Beit al-Moghaddas quick reaction force light infantry

Basij Beit al-Moghaddas quick reaction force light infantry

Basij Commander Brigadier General Naqdi among IRGC and NEZAJA brigadier generals 2C 

Photos: Javed Hadi at Fars News Agency