Just how significant to the military balance of power in the middle east is the news that the Israeli air force shot down an unarmed reconnaissance vehicle (UAV) over Israeli territory last week? It’s probably too early to tell.
What is important is that the Iranians have now admitted that both they and Hezbollah, the Lebanese based Jihadist group, played a part in launching the remote-controlled drone. According to the Associated Press, Iranian Defence Minister General Ahmad Vahidi said "Great job by Hezbollah. The era in which the Zionist regime (Israel) could think it has regional supremacy is over."
This statement comes few days After Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah claimed responsibility for the launch and said the drone was manufactured in Iran and assembled in Lebanon.
It is also interesting to note that last December the Iranians brought down an American drone over their territory after it apparently malfunctioned whilst flying over neighbouring Afghanistan. At that time the Guardian reported an Iran official saying: "An advanced RQ170 unmanned American spy plane was shot down by Iran's armed forces. It suffered minor damage and is now in possession of Iran's armed forces."
It is well known that because of economic sanctions against the country, the Iranians excel at reverse engineering many things. Just 9 months after downing the US's UAV, the Iranians announced their own home made drone capable of reaching Israel. All of which raises the question: Where else will the Iranians be able reach as they develop the technology behind these unmanned birds? This is a story that will run and run so watch this space.
What is important is that the Iranians have now admitted that both they and Hezbollah, the Lebanese based Jihadist group, played a part in launching the remote-controlled drone. According to the Associated Press, Iranian Defence Minister General Ahmad Vahidi said "Great job by Hezbollah. The era in which the Zionist regime (Israel) could think it has regional supremacy is over."
This statement comes few days After Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah claimed responsibility for the launch and said the drone was manufactured in Iran and assembled in Lebanon.
It is also interesting to note that last December the Iranians brought down an American drone over their territory after it apparently malfunctioned whilst flying over neighbouring Afghanistan. At that time the Guardian reported an Iran official saying: "An advanced RQ170 unmanned American spy plane was shot down by Iran's armed forces. It suffered minor damage and is now in possession of Iran's armed forces."
It is well known that because of economic sanctions against the country, the Iranians excel at reverse engineering many things. Just 9 months after downing the US's UAV, the Iranians announced their own home made drone capable of reaching Israel. All of which raises the question: Where else will the Iranians be able reach as they develop the technology behind these unmanned birds? This is a story that will run and run so watch this space.
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