Iran announced surprise military drills on Saturday to showcase its continued strength after the Israeli blows to its defense systems as well as the loss of Syria to rebels marked one of the Islamic Republic's biggest military setbacks yet.
"You will see that our power has not diminished, contrary to what the enemy claims in its psychological warfare, but has actually increased," Iranian media quoted Iran's Defense Minister, Brigadier General Aziz Nassirzadeh as saying.
"Today, some deliberately and others inadvertently present analyses suggesting the weakening of resistance," he added.
"I believe these individuals fail to grasp the essence of resistance, which is an ideology," Nassirzadeh added, referring to the strength of Iran's allied groups in the region despite the setbacks.
In October 26 retaliatory strikes again Iran, Israel took out nearly all of Iran’s air defense system, according to Western officials including the UK's Chief of Defense Staff.
Israel has decimated Hamas infrastructure in Gaza, assassinated many of its leaders, including Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar, and targeted Hezbollah’s commanders after killing successive leaders of the Lebanese group.
Notwithstanding, Iranian officials including the country's ultimate military decision maker, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, described the conflict as a victory.
