Iran's top military commander calls for enhanced air defense readiness

In a message to the commander of Iran's Air Defense Force on the occasion of Air Defense Day, Major General Abdollahi congratulated the force's personnel and highlighted the key expectations outlined in the appointment decree of the late Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei. He described those expectations as a clear roadmap for the transformation and advancement of the strategic force, particularly amid the current critical circumstances facing Iran.

The top general said Iran is currently facing the "third imposed American-Zionist war," adding that the country's defense strategy should focus on offensive defense capabilities and the creation of an integrated, active, dynamic, and preemptive air defense network. Major General Abdollahi also stressed the need to connect all reconnaissance, radar, and missile layers through an intelligent and resilient network capable of intercepting and neutralizing potential threats at the greatest possible distance.

He further called for the localization and smartification of defense systems through the development of advanced technologies and the deployment of systems designed specifically for electronic and cyber warfare. "Reliance on domestic capabilities and elite young people" is essential to enhancing the Air Defense Force's electronic and cyber warfare capabilities, the commander said.

According to Mehr News Agency, the message was delivered on the occasion of National Air Defense Day, underscoring the importance of air defense in Iran's military strategy. The remarks come amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States and Israel, with Iranian officials frequently emphasizing the need for self-sufficiency in defense capabilities.