For Ukraine and its supporters, the attack further demonstrated the dangerous link between Moscow and Tehran and, in their view, should strengthen the argument that defeating Russia in Ukraine will weaken aggressors threatening the U.S. and its allies around the world.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday condemned the Iranian attack and its use of “Shahed” drones.
“We in Ukraine know very well the horror of similar attacks by Russia, which uses the same ‘Shahed’ drones and Russian missiles, the same tactics of mass air strikes,” Zelensky said in a statement. “The obvious collaboration between the two regimes in spreading terror must face a resolute and united response from the world.”
Russia has deployed the Iranian-made drones against Ukraine for more than a year and a half, with cooperation between Tehran and Moscow improving on the design of the drones, strategies of attacks and capabilities.
Israel, in what is being described as a complex coordinated effort with the U.S., Jordan and other allies, succeeded in blunting an attack from Iran on Saturday. Iran said it launched its attack on Israel in retaliation for an April 1 bombing of its consulate in Syria where senior Iranian military leaders were killed.
The Israeli military said that Iran fired approximately 170 drones, 120 ballistic missiles and 30 cruise missiles, adding that nearly all were shot down.
“What Iran did, by sending drones first and then missiles, this is a tactic that the Russians are doing, too. There is a connection between them,” said Sina Azodi, visiting scholar and a professorial lecturer of international affairs at The George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs.
“From a short-term perspective, you can say this is a defeat for Iranians or they were not successful, but at the end of the day, I think they’re also watching, they’ve seen how their drones or missiles were shot down, and they’re taking notes on how to improve things,” Azodi continued.
“They’ve also tested what would happen in a potential conflict. What would the United States, or Jordanian, and others do? And they just tested how capable Israel’s missile defense system is. . . . I’m pretty sure they’re going to work to improve the weapon systems that they have. And I think this is a lesson that the Russians are doing too.”
Read the full report at TheHill.com.
