Iran marked its National Army Day on Wednesday with a parade showcasing its weapons at a military base in the capital Tehran, with heightened security around the parade venue due to the escalated tensions with Israel.
Given the tense backdrop in the wake of Iran's retaliatory strikes against Israel, stricter measures were put in place which restricted any live broadcasting of the biannual parade, while the number of camera crews in attendance was also limited.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and several high-ranking military officials were present and inspected the parade.
Raisi delivered a speech in which he said Iran had launched a "limited" not "massive" military operation against Israel on Saturday, who he said deserved such punishment for its attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria earlier this month.
He said the fact the United States had made no mention of any military response to Iran's attack speaks volume about Iran's military might being a deterrence.
In addition, Raisi said Israel's failure was a failure in intelligence, security and military, and more importantly in strategy.
Late on Saturday, Iran launched about 350 drones and missiles in response to the killing of seven Iranians, including two veteran commanders, by Israeli strikes on the consular section of the Iranian embassy in Syria on April 1.
Iran has a tradition of holding the twice-a-year military parade in April and September respectively.
Iran marks National Army Day with military parade showcasing weapons
Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, which boasts world-renowned iconic terracotta warriors and other historic landmarks, archaeological sites and scenic spots, has stepped up efforts to boost tourism during the Labor Day holiday between Wednesday and Sunday.
A total of more than 500 activities under five major themes are launched across scenic spots, old streets, shopping malls among others in the culture-rich province, including garden tours, fruit and vegetable picking, camping, as well as performances and interactive experiences of intangible cultural heritage.
Meanwhile, the local traffic police department has taken measures such as deploying additional officers to ease traffic around scenic spots and business districts to enhance travel efficiency.
One of the most popular tourist city in Shaanxi is its provincial capital Xi'an, which has over 3,100 years of history and served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. It is also home to the world-renowned terracotta warriors created in the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC). Discovered in 1974 and listed as a UNESCO world heritage site in 1987, the army of terracotta warriors was built by Emperor Qinshihuang of the Qin Dynasty, who unified China for the first time.
Other historical landmarks include well-preserved ancient city walls used as fortifications for military defense, and the Giant and Small Wild Goose Pagodas, true monuments to Buddhist culture and architecture.
Culture-rich province Shaanxi intensifies efforts to boost tourism during Labor Day holiday
