国际英语新闻：Iran starts navy drill in southern waters

TEHRAN, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Iran's navy started war games in the country's southern waters on Wednesday, the official IRNA news agency reported.

The Navy's military exercise dubbed "Velayat 89" is currently being conducted in the Strait of Hormuz and the Sea of Oman.

The combat, support, logistic, radar and electronic units of the navy force as well as the force's surface-to-surface, under water and air missiles will be used in the drill while it enjoys the support of Air Force fighter planes, the report said.

Iran's navy commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said Tuesday that Iranian navy will conduct the military drill in six phases in the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman in southern Iran which will last eight days, the local satellite Press TV reported.

The drill aims to display Iran's prowess in defending the country's territory and carries the message of "peace and friendship" for regional countries, Sayyari was quoted as saying.

In April, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) held a series of war games in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, code-named as the Great Messenger 5.