Iran launches surprise military maneuvers near Turkish border – report

Iran has launched a surprise military drill with army special operations forces near the country’s border with Turkey, AP reported, citing state television.

The exercise comes amid Iran’s opposition to Turkey’s planned invasion of northern Syria against Syrian Kurdish fighters there. The Syrian Kurds were US allies in the war against the Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) group.

The report on Wednesday said the drill in Qushchi, in Iran’s Western Azerbaijan province, is overseen by Maj. Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi, chief of Iran’s army.

The report didn’t mention the expected Turkish operation nor elaborate on the number of troops taking part in the drill. The area is about 620km, or 385 miles, northwest of Tehran.