Islamic Republic Claims Development of Drone ‘Specifically Designed to Attack Haifa and Tel Aviv’
Kiumars Heydari, commander of the ground forces of the Islamic Republic’s army, claimed that Iran has designed an advanced long-range suicide drone “specifically designed to attack Haifa and Tel Aviv,” two major Israeli cities.
Heydari said on Sunday evening, September 20, during a state television program that this drone is called “Arash 2,” which is a newer version of the “Arash 1” drone and has “the capability of multiple retrievals until hitting the target.”
Since its establishment following the Iranian Revolution, the Islamic Republic has not recognized Israel and has continuously threatened this United Nations member state while supporting opposition paramilitary groups.
Israeli officials have also repeatedly warned about the Islamic Republic’s drone capabilities and the transfer of such weapons to regional paramilitary groups, including armed Palestinian factions.
The ground forces commander, repeating other Islamic Republic officials’ slogan for “destroying” Israel, emphasized that the new drone “is an unparalleled bird that has been built for this purpose.”
Heydari did not provide more details about the Arash 2 drone, particularly regarding its range, but said: “Today we have drones with strategic range, and we also have a drone with a range of 2,000 kilometers.”
Beni Gantz, Israeli Defense Minister, revealed last December, pointing to the increase in Iranian drone threats in recent years, that the Iranian government has turned Qeshm Island and the Chabahar region into a military drone depot and carries out drone attacks from bases located in these areas.
He also said in late September of last year that the Islamic Republic trains its proxy groups in the Kashan airbase on “how to use and guide drones,” and that this base is “a key point in exporting Iran’s aerial terrorism to the region.”
Three months before that, Benjamin Netanyahu, then Prime Minister of Israel, announced that while Israel was engaged in war in Gaza, Iran had launched a “suicide” drone into Israeli airspace from Syria or Iraq.
Nevertheless, Israel has prepared itself to counter the Islamic Republic’s unmanned aircraft.
In late June, coinciding with Joe Biden’s visit to Israel, the military of that country displayed laser weapons called “Iron Beam,” which were designed to counter the threat of Iranian drones, to the U.S. president.
Also, in recent months, the transfer of Iranian drones to Russia for use in Moscow’s aggression against Ukraine made headlines. Although Biden administration officials announced that Russia has faced technical difficulties in using Iranian-made drones in its war against Ukraine.
Source: Radio Farda
