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'''Syria raid cannot be repeated in Iran' Tue, 28 Oct 2008 17:56:21 GMT

Iranian military officials have warned against a unilateral strike on the Islamic Republic in the wake of a US raid against Syria. On Sunday, four US helicopters attacked a civilian building in the Syrian village of Sukkariyah, eight kilometers from the Iraqi border, killing nine civilians and seriously wounding 14 others. Deputy Army Commander Brigadier General Abdul-Rahim Mousavi told reporters on Tuesday that the time has come for the enemy to acknowledge Iran's defense capabilities. "Recognition of Iran's naval mastery has traveled beyond the country's southern waters, and has reached the far ends of the Indian Ocean," said Brig. Gen. Mousavi. The Iranian commander stressed that giant Western aircraft carriers and battleships do not intimidate world nations as they once did. In a Tuesday statement, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps' (IRGC) naval commander, Admiral Morteza Saffari said that Iran's navy has been reorganized and is ready to defend the nation against all threats. "Iran's naval forces will make sure that the enemy will live to regret any act of aggression against the Islamic Republic," said Admiral Saffari. Acting IRGC commander Mohammad Hejazi, meanwhile, vowed on Tuesday that Iran's armed forces would shield the nation from invaders and defend the Islamic Republic's national interest. "IRGC forces have the determination and experience to guard Iran's national interests," said Brig. Gen. Hejazi. "They [the enemy] should learn from the mistakes of the past and realize that Iran is unlike any other country in the Middle East," he added. SBB/SME/HGH''