The IAF intercepted two unmanned aerial vehicles launched from Iran into the Gaza Strip carrying military equipment.
The incident happened about a year ago and has only just been released.
For several years now, Iran has been seeking to circumvent the tight closure on the Gaza Strip, and to smuggle into it advanced capabilities that will allow terrorist organizations to harm Israel more effectively.
Almost all attempts to do so by land were thwarted by Israel and Egypt, and the maritime medium was almost completely closed.
The drones that were launched were intended to pave a new and unexpected route, and their flight appeared to have been tested and the number of pistols they carried was negligible. They were launched from Iran and flew for a long time at low altitude. To Iran. Fighter jets intercepted the drones even before they entered Israeli territory.
Air Force "mighty" F-35s intercepted the drones, Photo: IDF Spokesman
Haniyeh and Raisi.
UAV made its way to Gaza Strip, Photo: Reuters, AP, AFP
The incident was very unusual, and has so far been kept secret for two reasons: first, the great sensitivity to a variety of factors in the area;
The second was the attempt to examine the Iranian response to the fact that the UAVs "disappeared" and did not reach their destination.
It seems that the decision to allow the publication of the event stems, among other things, from the re-signing of the nuclear agreement with Iran, which is expected to take place soon in Vienna.
It is estimated that after the signing of the agreement, Tehran will feel much more liberated to act against Israel, and more aggressively than before.
In Israel, they want to broadcast to the Islamic Republic that it is exposed, and that all its attempts will be intercepted - and answered sharply.
The activity of Iran's UAV system throughout the Middle East
In recent years, Iran has increased its use of unmanned aerial vehicles of various types, and in practice has become a leading world power in the field, with a long series of tools developed by it for various ranges and capable of carrying relatively high weights.
Some of the UAVs are designed to explode on their target, and some are used by the Iranians and their envoys to gather intelligence.
Almost daily evidence of this is given by the Houthis in Yemen, who frequently attack Saudi Arabia and recently the United Arab Emirates and Iraq - where local Shiite militias have carried out numerous attacks against US forces in the country and against local targets (including attacking the Iraqi prime minister's house) , In an attempt to eliminate it).
Damaged oil facilities in Saudi Arabia // Photo: AFP,
Iran is also transmitting advanced drones to Hezbollah in Lebanon as well as to militias operating under its auspices in Syria, from where Iran carried out several direct attacks through its forces, against Israel - all of which were intercepted. The first notable incident was in February 2018 By a combat helicopter in the Golan Heights.
Although Iran is trying to carry out most of this offensive activity without a direct signature, there are exceptions.
In September 2019, it launched dozens of armed UAVs at the facilities of the Saudi oil company Aramco, which were severely damaged. The Air Force of the Revolutionary Guards, under the command of Amir Ali Hajizadeh, which in recent years has become one of the most powerful and dangerous elements in Iran.
A new challenge
About two weeks ago, two drones were intercepted in Iraq, which were also launched from Iran. Although no official confirmation was given, it seems that the target of these two drones was Israel.
The launch may have taken place as part of the Iranian attempt to harm Israel, in retaliation for a long series of attacks on Iranian interests attributed to Israel, led by the assassination of nuclear projector Muhsin Fahrizadeh about a year and a half ago, and the continued attacks on Iranian arms shipments in Syria.
Hezbollah Secretary General, Hassan Narallah. The UAV threat also comes from the northern border // Photo: AFP,
The flooding of the area with UAVs poses a new challenge to the air defense system. This is a different threat, and sometimes more challenging than the missile and rocket threat, due to the different flight profile, altitudes and accuracy of the UAVs.
The Air Force has been preparing for this for a long time, and it is estimated that Iran will try to challenge Israel in a variety of ways - including launches from its soil, Iraq and Yemen, as well as provocations from Syria and Lebanon, as happened two weeks ago.
Although Hezbollah tried in this incident to deter Israel from continuing flights in the Lebanese skies, the organization is expected to increase its activity in the field.
IDF reveals failed Hezbollah attempt to launch UAV to Israel (archive) // Photo: IDF Spokesman
The IDF spokesman responded:
"During March 2021, the IDF intercepted two UAVs on their way from Iran to the territory of the State of Israel using 'mighty' fighter jets.
"UAV interceptions were carried out in the region's skies in coordination with neighboring countries, thus preventing intrusion into Israel. The UAVs monitored the control and detection systems throughout their flight."
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