TEHRAN, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Iran and Azerbaijan are staging a four-day joint military drill in the northwestern Iranian province of Ardabil, Sepah News, the official news outlet of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), reported on Monday.

Codenamed "Aras Joint Exercise," the drill, involving special units of the IRGC's Ground Force and the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, officially kicked off on Sunday.

Speaking on the sidelines of the drill on Monday, Vali Ma'adani, IRGC Ground Forces' deputy commander of operations, said the two countries' ground forces were the main focus of the exercise, "which is being held at the highest level of preparedness."

Ma'adani said the exercise aimed to strengthen bilateral relations, enhance cooperation between the two countries in the joint fight against organized illegal armed groups, ensure security along the shared border, increase the two sides' military capabilities, and foster defense collaborations at the operational and tactical levels.

Earlier this month, the Iranian and Azerbaijani naval forces staged a joint rescue and relief drill in the Caspian Sea. Enditem

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