JERUSALEM (AP) — Satellite photos taken Monday indicate that an Israeli retaliatory strike targeting Iran’s central city of Isfahan may have hit a radar system for a Russian-made air defense battery, despite denials by officials in Tehran of any damage in the attack.
The strike on an S-300 radar in what seems to be a limited Israeli strike would have caused more damage than the massive drone-and-missile attack Iran launched against Israel on April 13. Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have been avoiding discussing the actual impact of the attack on Iranian soil.
Analysts believe that both Iran and Israel, long-time regional rivals engaged in a shadow war, are now trying to reduce tensions following a series of escalatory attacks amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. However, experts suggest that the strike on Iran’s most advanced air defense system, used to protect its nuclear sites, sends a strong message.
“This strike demonstrates Israel’s capability to penetrate Iran’s air defense systems,” said Nicole Grajewski, a fellow at the Carnegie Endowment’s nuclear policy program. “The precision of the strike was remarkable.”
Satellite images taken by Planet Labs PBC near Isfahan’s airport and air base showed burn marks around the area where the air defense system was deployed. Analysts identified these marks as damage to the “flap-lid” radar system used for the S-300.
Following the attack, Iran’s air defenses were activated, leading to the grounding of commercial flights across the country. Iranian officials downplayed the attack, describing it as involving small drones rather than a significant strike.
Despite Tehran’s denial of any damage caused by the attack, evidence suggests that surface-to-air missiles were found in Iraq after the incident. This, along with a suspected Israeli strike on a radar station in Syria, indicates a complex operation involving Israeli fighter jets flying over multiple countries to carry out the attack on Isfahan.
The relationship between Iran and Russia, particularly regarding the delayed delivery of the S-300 air defense system, highlights the challenges Iran faces in acquiring advanced foreign weapons. Russia froze the delivery of the S-300 in 2010 due to objections from the US and Israel, only unfreezing the deal after Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers in 2015.
Iran’s desire to upgrade its military capabilities with Russian weapons, such as Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets, reflects its ongoing efforts to modernize its arsenal. The damaged radar system may require Russian assistance for repair, and Iran is likely to seek newer weapons in the future.
Overall, the recent events underscore the complex dynamics between Iran, Israel, and Russia in the region’s ongoing conflicts and arms race.
Jon Gambrell, The Associated Press
