Israel’s air defense intercepted almost all 185 drones launched by Iran.
Two Israeli Defense Forces sources say The New York Times – magazine that 185 drones, 36 cruise missiles and 110 land-to-ground missiles were fired at Israel at night.
Most were fired from Iran, but also from Iraq and Yemen.
The drones are estimated to have been Shahed-136 models. It has been described in social media delta wing droneswho are said to be in Iraqi airspace flying to Israel.
Shahed-136 is a long-range unmanned drone. It is a low-cost suicide weapon that delivers a pre-programmed explosive to the target.
Its range is almost 2,500 kilometers, which means that the range extends well from Iran to Israel.
The Shahed-136 has also been nicknamed Iran’s AK-47, i.e. in the same way as the famous AK-47 assault rifle, it is a cheap, mass-produced weapon ready to be transported to the world’s conflict zones.
Shahed-136 has become familiar with Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine.
Along with North Korea, Iran is one of the few countries that supplies military equipment to Russia.
The designer and likely manufacturer of the drones is under the control of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Shahed Aviation Industries Research Center.
It also produces lighter, shorter-range Shahed models. It is also known to be developing a faster, jet-powered model.
Russia has used Shahed-136 drones in Ukraine from autumn 2022 until. Russia is estimated to have agreed with Iran on 6,000 drones.
The whirring sound of these 3.5-meter-long drones, similar to mopeds and lawnmowers, emanating from the propeller has become familiar over Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.
Iran also sells Drone know-how. Russia is believed to be manufacturing Shahed drones at a production facility in Tatarstan.
Sources of the military intelligence service of Ukraine told at the beginning of the month that the production plant was the target of an airstrike by Ukraine.
AP, Reuters