In this Sunday, July 8, 2012 photo released by Syria’s official news agency SANA, Syrian troops participate in a live fire exercise in an undisclosed location in Syria. In a show of force, Syria began large-scale military exercises Sunday to simulate defending the country against outside “aggression.” Damascus’ staunch ally Iran warned of a “catastrophe” in the region if no political solution to the 16-month-old Syrian conflict is found. (AP Photo/SANA)