Iran’s recent missile and drone barrage targeting Israel shows similarities to Russian tactics used in frequent strikes on Ukraine, according to a new assessment by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). The ISW stated that Iran is learning from the Russians to develop increasingly dangerous and effective strike packages against Israel. Russia has been launching thousands of missile and drone strikes on Ukraine for nearly 26 months, using a variety of missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), including Iranian-designed Shahed explosive drones, to penetrate Western air and missile defenses.
Iran launched a large-scale aerial attack on Israel overnight in retaliation for an attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria on April 1, resulting in the deaths of several members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Tehran described the attack as part of its inherent right of self-defense against Israel’s military aggressions. The attack involved firing 170 explosive drones, over 30 cruise missiles, and more than 120 ballistic missiles towards Israel. The Israel Defense Forces reported identifying a small number of hits, including minor damage to a military base in southern Israel. The U.S. military intercepted dozens of missiles and drones heading for Israel from Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen.
The U.S. Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin, confirmed the interception of missiles and drones from multiple countries, stating that the U.S. had moved aircraft and ballistic missile defense destroyers to the region to help Israel defend against the incoming threats. Iran’s strikes provide them with opportunities to evaluate different attack strategies and understand how to evade and overwhelm U.S. air and maritime defenses more effectively. The U.S. provides both Israel and Ukraine with air defense capabilities, with Kyiv struggling to cover its territory with existing equipment against sustained Russian missile and drone attacks on energy and military infrastructure.
Germany announced plans to transfer an additional Patriot system to Ukraine, considered the gold standard of air defense and credited with intercepting Russia’s advanced missiles. Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia had launched 10 Shahed kamikaze drones and four anti-aircraft guided missiles at Ukraine overnight. The ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel, as well as Russia’s continued aggression towards Ukraine, highlights the importance of air defense capabilities in the face of evolving missile and drone threats. The U.S. and its allies are closely monitoring and responding to these developments to ensure the security and defense of the regions under threat.
