Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Strike Again! US Think Tank: Israel's Attack on Iran Goes Far Beyond Airstrikes

Israel's multi-faceted strike on Iran, combining air power, secret drones, and Mossad operations, aims to weaken Iran's nuclear and military capabilities, showcasing how drone warfare is reshaping modern conflicts and deterrence.

On Friday, Israel launched its largest-scale attack on Iran yet, part of a large-scale offensive aimed at weakening the Islamic Republic of Iran's nuclear program. Unlike Israel's June 1981 attack on Iraq's nuclear facilities, this strike on Iran was even larger in scale.

The attack targeted not only nuclear facilities but also multiple military installations, including missile bases, while further targeting Iran's senior military leadership. This was a highly coordinated operation that utilized smuggled drones (UAVs) into Iran, similar to Ukraine's "Spider Web Operation" earlier this month. The "Spider Web Operation" attacked several Russian airbases, destroying multiple heavy bombers worth billions of dollars.

Similar to Ukraine's operation, Israel's "Operation Rising Lion" secretly deployed drones to strategic locations almost under the noses of local officials. Unlike the "Spider Web Operation," where Kiev did not inform Washington about the attack plan, Israel informed the United States of its plan to conduct coordinated airstrikes against Iran's nuclear program and other facilities.

Joint Cooperation Between Israeli Defense Forces and Mossad

According to The Times of Israel, "This operation depended on the close joint planning of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Mossad intelligence agency," highlighting Israel's willingness to "fight long-term battles" in such actions.

Just last September, Mossad carried out the "Terror Pager Operation," causing thousands of handheld pagers used by Hezbollah and hundreds of other communication devices to explode simultaneously. This operation had been in the works for years.

Israeli Drones Enter Iranian Territory

"Operation Red Lion" also took months of planning, establishing a drone base outside Tehran and deploying precision-guided missiles by Mossad commandos in central Iran. These high-explosive drones and ground-launched missiles played a crucial role in destroying Iran's Islamic Republic air defense system, giving Israel Air Force nearly absolute air superiority.

Bringing drones into Iran was a bold task with risks involved.

"This required breakthrough thinking, bold planning, and precise application of advanced technology. Special forces and agents needed to operate deep within Iran, avoiding surveillance by local intelligence agencies," a Mossad official told The Times of Israel.

Ukraine and Israel Use Drones in Warfare

For years, it has been argued that drones have changed the landscape of modern battlefields. These small drones were once used to destroy enemy tanks and forward positions in Ukraine and also to attack warships.

Drones have become a powerful force multiplier.

However, Ukraine's recent attack on Russian airbases and Israel's use of drones to destroy Iran's air defense systems highlight the dangers faced by every nation today. In many parts of the world, commercial drones are now widely available and affordable, allowing terrorists to pose a nearly unstoppable threat without smuggling more complex weapons. With just one explosive device, they can create almost insurmountable threats.

These small systems destroyed Iran's air defense systems and attacked Russia's ground bombers far from the front lines. Drones were once used to monitor U.S. aircraft carriers, but they can also be easily used for preemptive strikes on warships. Such threats may be as serious as hypersonic missiles, if not more so, since only a few elite nations can manufacture them. In contrast, even non-state actors can use drones.

As a terror weapon, armed drones can be mass-produced and seem unstoppable. Dozens of drones attacking simultaneously could cause hundreds of deaths, while thousands of drones launching simultaneously at multiple locations might result in unimaginable casualties!

Source: The National Interest

Author: Peter Suciu

Date: June 13

Original Article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1834882459107395/

Disclaimer: This article represents the author's personal views only.