Iran Conducts Air Defense Drills as Israeli and US Strike Threat Looms.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is believed to have conducted missile and air defense exercises over several major cities on January 5, including Tehran and Shiraz, according to regional media and social media footage. The activity underscores Tehran’s continued focus on domestic air defense readiness amid heightened regional tensions and external surveillance.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps appeared to carry out large-scale air defense and missile-related exercises over multiple urban centers on the evening of January 5, according to reports from Persian-language outlets and international media monitoring social platforms. Videos widely circulated online showed sustained anti-aircraft fire illuminating the night sky over Tehran and Shiraz, while residents reported repeated detonations consistent with short-range air defense systems rather than ballistic missile launches, as cited by Namehnews and Eghtesadonline.
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Previous exercises have involved systems such as the Khordad-series surface-to-air missiles and short-range gun-missile combinations optimized to counter drones and low-flying threats (Picture source: Iranian MoD)

Footage shared widely on Telegram and X appeared to originate from multiple locations, including western Tehran districts, Shiraz, and Maragheh in northwestern Iran, suggesting the drills were not confined to a single air defense zone. While the authenticity of individual videos could not be independently verified, the volume and geographic spread of the material point to coordinated activity involving several IRGC air defense units. No official confirmation has been issued by the Guards, and Iranian authorities have remained silent regarding the nature, scope, or objectives of the military activity.

The drills immediately triggered speculation among regional observers. Israeli television channels and other media outlets claimed the activity could indicate Iranian preparations for a large-scale pre-emptive strike against Israel. Those claims remain unverified, and there has been no public statement from Tehran acknowledging missile launches or signaling imminent action against Israel. Iran regularly conducts air defense exercises, but the visibility of this activity over populated areas has amplified regional concern at a time of heightened tension.

Adding to the uncertainty, Iranian state media in early January published images of banners erected across Tehran bearing warnings against Israel and the US military presence in the Gulf. According to social media posts from multiple neighborhoods, the banners included maps and references to previous Iranian strikes, accompanied by the phrase “It Will Happen Again.” Some banners reportedly referenced the US base in Qatar, reinforcing perceptions that the messaging was directed as much at external adversaries as at a domestic audience.

The timing of the drills is also politically sensitive. Iran is facing nationwide protests that have entered their eighth consecutive day, with at least 17 people reported killed and internet restrictions imposed in areas experiencing intense demonstrations. The visible activation of air defense systems over major cities is widely interpreted by analysts as a show of force aimed at projecting regime control and deterrence, both internally and externally.

Internal pressures within Iran’s leadership have become increasingly apparent. On January 5, President Masoud Pezeshkian publicly called for respectful treatment of protesters and cautioned security forces against excessive force, an unusually conciliatory tone amid unrest. According to senior Iranian officials cited by The New York Times, elements within the security establishment have privately acknowledged that the regime is facing what they described as a survival-level crisis. In parallel, Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani warned on January 2 that alleged American interference in the protests would destabilize the region, urging Washington to be “mindful of their soldiers’ safety,” language that underscored the linkage Tehran is drawing between domestic unrest and external confrontation.

From a military perspective, the reported activity aligns with known IRGC doctrine emphasizing layered air defense around major cities and strategic sites. Previous exercises have involved systems such as the Khordad-series surface-to-air missiles and short-range gun-missile combinations optimized to counter drones and low-flying threats. Conducting such drills over urban centers, rather than remote ranges, increases their signaling value while also testing command-and-control performance under realistic conditions.

With no official IRGC statement forthcoming, the January 5 activity remains open to interpretation. What is clear is that the convergence of visible military drills, aggressive public messaging, and mounting domestic unrest has sharpened regional attention on Iran’s next moves. Whether intended as routine training, strategic deterrence, or political signaling, the exercises underscore the central role of the IRGC’s missile and air defense forces in Tehran’s response to simultaneous internal and external pressure.