Latest Defence News 

Israel ,Iran 

Iran has developed a range of ballistic missiles and drones in a program that has long worried the West. The missiles are an important part of the arsenal at Tehran’s disposal as it threatens to retaliate against Israel for a strike on a building in the Iranian embassy compound in the Syrian capital of Damascus, which killed several Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders, including two generals. Citing two unnamed US officials, CBS reported Friday that a major attack on Israel could be imminent and may include more than 100 drones and dozens of missiles aimed at military targets inside the country. They warned Israel would be challenged to fend off an assault of that scale. The officials said it was possible Tehran may still opt for a smaller-magnitude strike in order to avoid a dramatic escalation. According to Channel 12 news, ballistic missiles fired from Iran would take 12 minutes to reach Israel, cruise missiles would take two hours, and drones launched from the Islamic Republic would journey for nine hours to reach their target. According to the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Iran is armed with the largest number of ballistic missiles in the region. Here are some details: The semi-official Iranian news outlet ISNA published a graphic this week showing nine Iranian missiles it said could reach Israel. These included the ‘Sejil’, capable of flying at more than 17,000 km (10,500 miles) per hour and with a range of 2,500 km (1,550 miles), the ‘Kheibar’ with a range of 2,000 km (1,240 miles), and the ‘Haj Qasem’, which has a range of 1,400 km (870 miles) and is named after Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani, who was killed in a US drone strike in Baghdad four years ago, ISNA said. Iran, a major producer of drones, said in August it had built an advanced homemade drone named Mohajer-10 with an operational range of 2,000 km (1,240 miles) and capable of flying for up to 24 hours with a payload of up to 300 kg (660 pounds). Iran says its ballistic missiles are an important deterrent and retaliatory force against the United States, Israel and other potential regional targets. It denies seeking nuclear weapons. Last June, Iran presented what officials described as its first domestically made hypersonic ballistic missile, the official IRNA news agency reported. Hypersonic missiles can fly at least five times faster than the speed of sound and on a complex trajectory, which makes them difficult to intercept. Despite US and European opposition, the Islamic Republic has said it will further develop its defensive missile program. The Arms Control Association, a Washington-based nongovernmental organization, says Iran’s missile program is largely based on North Korean and Russian designs and has benefited from Chinese assistance. The Arms Control Association says Iran’s short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles include: Shahab-1, with an estimated range of 300 km (190 miles); the Zolfaghar, with 700 km (435 miles); Shahab-3, with 800-1,000 km (500 to 620 miles); Emad-1, a missile under development with up to 2,000 km (1,240 miles); and Sejil, under development, with 1,500-2,500 km (930 to 1,550 miles). Iran also has cruise missiles such as the Kh-55, an air-launched nuclear-capable weapon with a range of up to 3,000 km (1,860 miles), and the advanced anti-ship missile the Khalid Farzh, with about 300 km (186 miles), capable of carrying a 1,000-kg (1.1-ton) warhead.

Regional attacks

Iran's Revolutionary Guards utilized missiles in January, targeting what they claimed to be the spy headquarters of Israel in Iraq's Kurdistan region. They also reported launching strikes against Islamic State militants in Syria. Additionally, Iran announced missile attacks on two bases belonging to a Baluchi militant group in neighboring Pakistan. Both Saudi Arabia and the United States have asserted that they believe Iran was responsible for a drone and missile assault on Saudi Arabia's vital oil facilities in 2019. However, Tehran denied these allegations. In 2020, Iran launched missile attacks on US-led forces in Iraq, including the al-Asad air base. These strikes were in retaliation for a US drone strike that resulted in the death of Iranian commander Soleimani. The killing of Soleimani heightened concerns of a broader conflict in the Middle East.

The Middle East continues to be a region rife with geopolitical tensions, where various actors vie for influence and power. Iran, in particular, has been accused by the United States and Western intelligence officials of providing extensive support to several militant groups across the region. Here's a breakdown of Iran's alleged backing for groups in Yemen, Lebanon, and Syria.

Yemen's Houthis have been a focal point of Iran's alleged support, with the United States accusing Tehran of arming the group. The Houthis' actions, including missile attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and purported support for Palestinians during the Gaza conflict, have raised concerns about Iran's influence in the region. Despite Tehran's denial of arming the Houthis, incidents such as the 2022 missile attack on a UAE base hosting US military personnel have fueled suspicions of Iranian involvement.

In Lebanon, Iran-backed Hezbollah has boasted of its capabilities, claiming the ability to convert standard rockets into precision missiles with the assistance of Iranian experts. Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, has openly acknowledged the group's close ties with Iran and its access to advanced weaponry. This partnership has raised alarm bells among regional rivals and Western powers wary of Hezbollah's growing military prowess.

Syria, too, has become a theater for Iran's alleged support for militant groups. Reports suggest that Iran has provided indigenous precision-guided missiles to bolster President Bashar al-Assad's forces in their fight against insurgents. Additionally, Iran has purportedly transferred some of its missile production capabilities to underground facilities in Syria, allowing Assad's military and pro-Tehran factions to manufacture their own weaponry.

These developments underscore Iran's strategic calculus in the region, where it seeks to project power and influence through proxies and militant groups. The alleged support for the Houthis in Yemen, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Assad's regime in Syria reflects Iran's broader ambitions to shape regional dynamics and challenge the influence of its adversaries.

However, Iran's activities have also sparked concerns among regional stakeholders and the international community, leading to calls for greater scrutiny and diplomatic efforts to address destabilizing behavior. As tensions persist in the Middle East, understanding and addressing Iran's support for militant groups remains a complex and pressing challenge for policymakers seeking to promote stability and security in the region.