Israeli media said that Russia may have transferred Iskander missiles and electronic warfare systems to Iran amid the “tense” situation in the Middle East.
According to Israel’s Channel 14 news agency, Russia is said to have transferred Iskander missile systems and Murmansk-BN electronic warfare systems to Iran. The transfers were made using IL-76 military transport aircraft, which have produced multiple flights from Russia to Iran.
Neither Russia nor Iran has commented on the information. The source did not say when the weapons were transferred to Iran or how many. This news comes amid escalating tensions between Iran and Israel in recent times.
Iran and its allies have vowed to retaliate against Israel after the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah leader Fouad Shukr in Beirut.
Mr. Haniyeh, one of the leading figures of the Hamas militant group in the Gaza Strip and head of the group’s political office, was assassinated on July 31 while in the Iranian capital Tehran.
While Israel neither confirmed nor denied involvement in the assassination of the Hamas leader in Iran, it admitted to an airstrike that killed Hezbollah leader Fouad Shukr in Beirut, Lebanon. Israel also warned that it would retaliate if attacked.
If the above information is true, this could be a development that attracts special attention because the power of these weapons and equipment is very formidable.
The Murmansk-BN electronic warfare system is considered an “invisible killer” because it can block satellite navigation and communications at distances of up to 5,000km. Thanks to that, the system can disable enemy weapons without using gunpowder.
The Iskander system normally has a range of up to 500km, but it has a variant called the Iskander-K, with the R-500 cruise missile capable of reaching 1,500km. This missile could reach Israeli targets.
On August 5, Secretary of the Russian Security Council Sergei Shoigu visited Iran amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The New York Times on August 5 quoted Iranian officials as saying that Russia had begun delivering advanced air defense and radar equipment after Tehran asked the Kremlin to provide weapons. Russia and Iran have not commented on this information.
In July, Iran’s president-elect issued a message emphasizing that Russia is “a strategic ally and a valuable neighbor of Iran and that the Iranian government remains committed to expanding and strengthening cooperation between the two countries.”
Western intelligence predicts Iran will launch an attack early this week, on a scale similar to Iran’s attack on Israel in April which included hundreds of missiles and drones.
At a security cabinet meeting on the evening of August 4, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed that the country is in a “multi-front” war and is ready to deal with any situation.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant also declared: “If they dare to attack us, they will pay a heavy price.”
Amid escalating tensions, US President Joe Biden and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reiterated Washington’s support for Israel’s security and “right to defend itself against threats from Iran, Hezbollah, Houthis and other Iranian-backed armed groups.”
