Is it karma, perhaps? Iran has provided deadly unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to Russia for use in Ukraine and on Jan. 28, small Israeli UAVs began to rain down fire on Iranian targets in the dark of night. One specific military facility was reported hit by what is believed to be small quadcopter weapons-capable drones. The drone air attack is the first military action taken by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration following his return to leadership. Tehran’s support to Russia has been a source of frustration and irritation for the West. The US and NATO countries have been highly critical of Iran’s sending drones and other war-fighting support to Moscow to bolster the Kremlin’s invasion of its neighbor.
Tehran’s military support to the Kremlin has not been trivial. “The Paris-based dissident organization National Council of Resistance of Iran [NCRI] accused the Iranian regime of furnishing Russian strongman Vladimir Putin’s army with more than 3,500 drones for his scorched-earth war against Ukraine,” Fox News reported. The drones shipped to the Kremlin are “Shahed-129, Mohager-6 and suicide drones Shahed -136 and Shahed-131.”
Iran Says it Defended Against the Drones
“Iranian officials said that the country’s air defenses had fended off an attempted attack by three small quadcopters targeting a munitions factory in the city of Isfahan,” According to The Wall Street Journal, “right next to a site belonging to the Iran Space Research Center, which has been sanctioned by the US for its work on Iran’s ballistic-missile program.” However, according to information found in social media tweets, the UAVs may have hit more than one target. Video tweeted by NOELreports, a Ukraine news outlet, shows fires and explosions in at least three locations in Iran; Isfahan, Tabriz, and Karaj. So far, Tehran news reports have acknowledged only the one drone strike in Isfahan, where Iranian officials claim three drones attacked. If true, the NOELreports account shows a more extensive target set.
Reports from Pentagon officials said there was no US involvement in the explosions taking place across Iran. But it is hard to believe the US had no prior knowledge of the attack. Again, from the WSJ, “Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns made an unannounced trip to Israel last week to discuss Iran and other regional issues, according to people familiar with his visit.” It seems very strange the Israeli plan to send armed drones into the heart of Iran would not have been discussed with Burns. Additionally, the Israeli attack comes within a day of the conclusion of a combined US-Israel full-spectrum military exercise. According to Liberty Nation, “…[T]he largest combined US-Israel military exercise called ‘Juniper Oak 2023,’ involving the US Central Command and Israeli Defense Forces, concluded on January 27. The training operation involved front-line weapon systems.” Combined with the UAV air attack, the message to Iran is unambiguous. The US and Israel were serious when the two nations signed the Jerusalem Declaration pledging to ensure Iran did not get a nuclear weapon.
(Photo by Ilia Yefimovich/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Israel Gives US and NATO a Two-for-One Gift
The US, NATO, and European Union allies have been working to stop Iran from continuing to provide drones and other support to Russia. With the Israeli air strike, the US got a twofer. First, the Tehran government got an up close and personal announcement that Israel has the will and the means to reach out and touch Iranian military facilities. Second, Israel can assist Ukraine without overtly sending weapons to the Kyiv government. “War logic is inexorable & murderous. It bills the authors & accomplices strictly…Explosive night in Iran -- drone & missile production, oil refineries. We did warn you,” Mykhailo Podolyak, advisor to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine, tweeted.
Iran will see there is a cost to aiding Moscow. Similar attacks by the Jerusalem government have prompted responses. Iran has used cruise missile attacks on Israeli oil tankers and cargo ships in the Arabian Gulf. Similar reprisals should be expected. Nonetheless, the Jewish state has demonstrated solid resilience to such attacks. In retrospect, the drone attacks on Iran probably did minor damage to the facilities. However, the psychological impact may be more damaging. Iran has been shown to have little defense against anything Israel chooses to do. One would think the attack would be a news flash for Iran’s ruling mullahs.
The views expressed are those of the author and not of any other affiliation.
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