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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIsrael says it will retaliate: Russian weapons help Iran harden defenses against Israeli airstrike
Last edited Tue Apr 16, 2024, 03:55 PM - Edit history (2)
The factory, NPP Start, in the city of Yekaterinburg, is under U.S. sanctions for supporting Russias war against Ukraine. Among its wares are mobile launchers and other components for antiaircraft batteries including Russias S-400, which military analysts assess to be capable of detecting and destroying stealth fighter jets flown by Israel and the United States.
A leaked Russian document, part of stolen Iranian emails posted online in February by a hacker group, described the tour as a showcase for scientific and technical potential and production capabilities that Russia could offer Iran.
Whether the visit led directly to a purchase is unknown. But the trip is emblematic of what intelligence officials describe as a deepening strategic partnership between Moscow and Tehran in the two years since Russias full invasion of Ukraine an alliance that could emerge as a significant factor as Israeli leaders weigh possible military strikes in retaliation for the hundreds of drones and missiles launched against Israel over the weekend.
Iran opened a dangerous new chapter in its relations with Russia by agreeing in 2022 to supply thousands of battlefield drones and missiles to aid Moscow in its war against Ukraine. The expanded ties have now helped cement agreements between Moscow and Tehran, including a pledge by Russia to provide its ally with advanced fighter jets and air-defense technology, assets that could help Tehran harden its defenses against any future airstrike by Israel or the United States, according to U.S., European and Middle Eastern intelligence officials and weapons experts. The officials, like several others interviewed for this article, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.
Last March, a Russian arms maker invited a delegation of Iranians to a VIP shopping tour of its weapons factories. The 17 visitors were treated to lunches and cultural shows and, on the final day, toured a plant that makes products long coveted by Tehran: advanced Russian air-defense systems for shooting down enemy planes.
No Paywall: https://wapo.st/3xui2Ur
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/04/15/iran-israel-russia-drones-missiles/
The Latest | Israel says it will respond to Iran attack as world leaders urge restraint
Israels military chief said Monday that the country will respond after Iran launched an attack involving hundreds of drones, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles. World leaders are urging Israel not to retaliate.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says all sides must show restraint to avoid a rising spiral of violence in the Middle East. French President Emmanuel Macron said Paris will try to convince Israel that we must not respond by escalating.
The Iranian attack on Saturday marked the first time Iran has launched a direct military assault on Israel, despite decades of enmity dating back to the countrys 1979 Islamic Revolution. The attack happened less than two weeks after a suspected Israeli strike in Syria that killed two Iranian generals in an Iranian consular building.
An Israeli military spokesman said that 99% of the drones and missiles launched by Iran were intercepted.
https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/latest-world-leaders-urge-israel-retaliate-iranian-drone-109232836
]Graphic lifted from this DU Post https://www.democraticunderground.com/100218866743
How is a war between Israel and Iran supposed to work?
Note: Russia and Iran are basically nextdoor neighbors (people often don't realize this!)
Azerbaijan was once part of Iran. It was once part of Russia (before the USSR). It is close allies with both countries. It will open it's air, land and sea space to both Iran and Russia.
So you got Israel versus this huge "thing" (like the song "Dem Bones"-- Russia is also connected to China)
Of course, it would entangle the US because Israel can't do this alone!
WarGamer
(12,463 posts)Including 5th Gen aircraft.
LeftInTX
(25,515 posts)I hope Israel is not planning a direct attack on Iran.
They have some crazy people in Israel who don't seem to show or want restraint. (such as Gvir)
Gore1FL
(21,151 posts)I think these may be as good as their armor.
LeftInTX
(25,515 posts)Azerbaijan will give Russia and Iran airspace and/or Caspian Sea space
Happy Hoosier
(7,375 posts)I have seen evidence that the S-400 is not nearly as effective as claimed. It is a threat against 4th gen aircraft, especially in the absence of ECM.
Israel has a shit ton of ECM and AR weapons. Israel also has some medium to long range precision munitions that are at least as good as US equipment.
Amishman
(5,559 posts)Ukraine as successfully taken out S400 batteries with a variety of missiles - all of which have a larger radar cross section than an F35.
ripcord
(5,497 posts)Then call it a measured response.
LeftInTX
(25,515 posts)Russia and Iran are basically next door neighbors. There is a sliver of Azerbaijan that separates them and that is all. Azerbaijan has been part of both Iran and Russia in the past and has cozy relationships with both countries. So, unlike the Arab countries, Azerbaijan will likely allow all sorts of military transport between Russian and Iran. There is also the Caspian Sea for marine transport between Russia and Iran.
ripcord
(5,497 posts)wnylib
(21,570 posts)The world scene is forming into the kinds of alliances that, in the past, have led to world wars. Israel, US, and our allies on one side; Iran, Russia, and their allies on the other side.
It is a positioning of democracies vs. fascist dictatorships, civilization vs. terrorism.
Happy Hoosier
(7,375 posts)What makes you think they can stop a massive sophisticated attack in Iran?
EX500rider
(10,849 posts)They have very little they can afford to send to Iran, esp with Ukraine launching deep UAV strikes into Russia, they are very stretched thin in anti-air defense and I doubt Iran wants any 70 year old tanks
Lancero
(3,011 posts)ripcord
(5,497 posts)They could stop supporting terrorists and directing them against Israel in a proxy war, Iran is without a doubt one of the belligerents in this war.
Lancero
(3,011 posts)EX500rider
(10,849 posts)Renew Deal
(81,869 posts)This will never end.
wnylib
(21,570 posts)for everyone, even those not directly involved.
LeftInTX
(25,515 posts)The rest is just "chest-beating", which they really can't afford right now. They aren't going to eliminate Iran's nuclear program, they aren't going to eliminate Iran's drones. They aren't going to be able to stop Iran's proxy wars in one attack.
They might hurt Iran's ego, but what good is that???
wnylib
(21,570 posts)a military retaliation against Iran with missiles, drones, and bombs. The US would not back then so they would be acting alone.
There are other things that Israel might do instead of a military attack on Iran, but I don't want to mention them. I will wait to see whether Israel follows through on them.
ripcord
(5,497 posts)Israel has repeatedly defeated attacks from forces many times their size, they took on on the Arab nations along with the Palestinian militia and won five times.
wnylib
(21,570 posts)Those wars were decades ago.
Iran is not only well armed, but has terroristic proxy groups working for them, like Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis. A combined attack from all of them would be too much for Israel's defense to handle while conducting offensive fighting against Iran. Hamas broke through Israeli defenses on 10/7. Even if Israel won in the end, it would be at a high cost of life and Israeli infrastructure.
If Israel can go it alone so well, why did the US and a coalition of nations work with Israel on defense during Iran's recent attacks?
ripcord
(5,497 posts)They were all using the latest equipment from the USSR.
wnylib
(21,570 posts)fighting Israel in those wars? Soviets did not have enough excess weaponry to do that. Meantime, Israel had a better trained military, better strategists, and American arms.
Since then, groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and Houthis have gained strength n arms and strategy with Iranian backing.
Israel is surrounded by nations that could unite with Iran in war, in addition to the terrorist military groups that I've named.
Here is Iran's military, not counting its terrorist surrogate groups. It is not wise to underestimate your adversaries.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Republic_of_Iran_Armed_Forces
EX500rider
(10,849 posts)50 year old fighter planes and frigates won't cut it.
They have no tanker planes so it's be a one way trip for their antique planes. (and they have zero bombers)
And their ground forces are useless with several countries in-between them.
Also they have is the stuff that didn't work in the last attack, they can ramp up the number on that and go for a swamp attack but that invites Israel to destroy their entire oil infrastructure and there goes 45% of their already weak govt budget.
Also the Iranian armed forces have about zero combat experience as opposed to the IDF
EX500rider
(10,849 posts)Six Day War:
Egypt, Syria and Iraq used:
T-34/85, T-54, T-55
BTR-40, BTR-152, BTR-50, BTR-60
MiG-21, MiG-19, MiG-17, Su-7B, Tu-16, Il-28, Il-18, Il-14, An-12
Mi-6, Mi-4
SA-2 Guideline, ZSU-57-2
With the exception of Jordan, the Arabs relied principally on Soviet weaponry.
wnylib
(21,570 posts)Last edited Tue Apr 16, 2024, 06:14 PM - Edit history (1)
in comparison to Israel's weapons numbers? Obviously either the weapons or the soldiers in those Arabic countries were of inferior quality or numbers or they would not have been defeated. But over the years, they have grown stronger and more sophisticated and creative in strategic fighting. Hamas managed to breach Israel's Iron Dome on 10/7.
Iran was not involved in those previous wars. Today, Iran makes its own weapons and is a weapons exporter as well as a terrorism exporter through arming and financially supporting terrorist militias.
The point is that Iran is in a better fighting position now than past enemies of Israel were in previous wars and conflicts. Here's a run down on Israel's wars and conflicts since its establishment in 1948. The fighting gets longer and harder as the years progress toward modern dates and the Arab terrorist militias gain strength from Iranian backing. Israel can end up in a multi front war with Hamas, Hezbollah, Yemeni Houthis, and Iran. Check out the section labelled tables to see who Israel fought each time. Most recently it has been and still is Iran and its terrorist proxies.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars_involving_Israel
EX500rider
(10,849 posts)Israel:
264,000 troops total
250300 combat aircraft
800 tanks
Arab Armies:
Total
465,000 troops total
800 aircraft
2504 tanks
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six-Day_War#Armies
LeftInTX
(25,515 posts)EX500rider
(10,849 posts)But over a third of their soldiers were veterans of Egypt's intervention in the North Yemen Civil War.
The Arab armies minus Jordan used Soviet military doctrine which was all about a centralized command and control structure with no room for improvisation at the lower levels while the IDF placed high reliance on decision making at lower echelons.
In fast moving modern mechanized warfare the Soviet model was inferior.
LeftInTX
(25,515 posts)To the best of my knowledge, Israel does not possess an aircraft carrier. Without an aircraft carrier or ability to have an air base next to Iran, they will need fly over numerous Arab countries.
EX500rider
(10,849 posts)With tanker aircraft support they can fly down the Red Sea, make a left in the Arabian Sea and attack Iran from the south.
It would vastly increase the distance but the US has flown bombers from US bases to targets in the Middle East before round trip with tanker support.
They can also go across Syria and Iraq, neither with up-to-date air defenses, esp. when trying to detect stealth F-35's.
B.See
(1,273 posts)on Israel that ignited the current conflict, as well as attacks on US military bases
just as they are actively involved in stoking division, discord, and disinformation here in the US.
NickB79
(19,258 posts)Planes designed in the 1970's.
That's..... really bad.
EX500rider
(10,849 posts)Of which production started in 1958 entered service with the Navy 1961
Amishman
(5,559 posts)Live fire exercise against real attack drones is a great pilot training opportunity.
Plus helping an ally - it was a twofer.
Ping Tung
(644 posts)It ended 4 years later with at least 10,000,000 dead for......nothing.