Putin's 'hidden hand': How Russia's covert tactics are turning Iran's drones into deadly weapons against the West
Vladimir Putin, the president of the Russian Federation, may have had a “hidden hand” in the tactics used by Iran in drone attacks in the Middle East, British Defense Secretary John Healey said after a briefing with British officers at army headquarters in Northwood, Britain.
Volodymyr Putin PHOTO: EPA-EFE
Healey told reporters that Iranian pilots and those of pro-Tehran groups have begun to adopt combat methods similar to those used by the Russians in the war in Ukraine, particularly in the use of “Shahed” drones, according to The Guardian.
Gen. Nick Perry, the head of joint operations, said the tactics include flying at much lower altitudes, making them more difficult to detect and shoot down — an approach the Russian military has perfected in Ukraine.
Healey suggested that Russia not only influences Iran's tactics, but may also provide it with intelligence support or practical advice. He also motivated this by the fact that the Russian president would benefit from high oil prices, as they fuel Russia's economy and support its military efforts in Eastern Europe.
The night before, Iranian drones struck a military base in Erbil, northern Iraq, also used by Western forces, including the British. The British counter-drone unit shot down two additional devices, with no British casualties reported.
Healey's remarks come amid a regional conflict in which Iran has launched thousands of Shahed drones following a February 28 US-Israeli airstrike on Iranian territory.
Tehran says it will continue strikes on US positions in the region and threatens to close the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil shipping.
A statement broadcast by state television on behalf of Mojtaba Khamenei, the successor to the ayatollah slain at the start of the conflict, reaffirmed Tehran's commitment to continuing the attacks, without providing details on the new supreme leader's health.
The conflict has already caused significant disruption in global energy markets, and US President Donald Trump has played down the effects of rising oil prices, saying the United States, as a major producer, “makes a lot of money”.
