The United Kingdom’s Secretary of Defense, John Healey, stated this Thursday (12) that there are signs of Russian influence in the military tactics adopted by Iran in the Middle East, after the regime was attacked by the USA and Israel on February 28, an attack that triggered the ongoing war.
According to Healey, British officials assess that the “hidden hand” of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin may be behind part of the strategies used by Tehran to respond to the American and Israeli offensive, including the intensive use of drones in attacks against bases and installations linked to Western forces in the region.
Healey said that the United Kingdom’s military identified that Iran began using Shahed drones with tactics similar to those adopted by Russia in the war against Ukraine, such as low-altitude flights to make detection by air defense systems difficult. As these drones were supplied by Tehran to Moscow for use in the invasion of Ukrainian territory, British authorities assess that the change in the pattern of use by Iran in the Middle East indicates that Russia may be passing on military experience acquired on the battlefield in Eastern Europe to Iran.
“I believe no one would be surprised to learn that Putin’s hidden hand is behind some of Iran’s tactics and potentially some of its capabilities,” the minister declared.
The head of joint operations for the British Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Nick Perry, stated that since the start of the current conflict in the Middle East, Iran has launched more than 2,000 Shahed drones against countries in the Middle East.
According to information released by CNN Last week, sources linked to the United States government claimed that Russia had provided Iran with intelligence data on the positions and movements of American troops, ships and aircraft in recent weeks. The Kremlin denies it is transferring military information, but has maintained dialogue with both Washington and Tehran about the conflict.
The military relationship between Russia and Iran has intensified since the invasion of Ukraine, when Moscow began using Iranian-made Shahed drones on a large scale against Ukrainians. In recent years, Russia and Iran have also signed agreements to transfer technology and improve the defense field.
Iranian regime officials said they will continue attacking American bases in the Middle East and threatened to maintain restrictions on shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20% of the world’s oil passes.
Healey said the United Kingdom and other European countries are currently discussing measures to ensure safe navigation in the region, while the United States remains focused on reducing Iran’s offensive capabilities.
