“Our intelligence indicates that the Iranian government is preparing to deliver up to several hundred drones, including combat aircraft, to Russia at a very short notice,” said White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan.
This delivery “could give a significant boost” to Russian troops, whose advance into Ukraine has slowed in recent weeks, writes The Washington Post. This is what military expert Frederick Kagan told the American daily:
“It is difficult to assess what the effect will be, but it will clearly give the Russians more ability to carry out air attacks than they currently havepresumably deeper into Ukrainian territory.”
By mirror effect, this massive contribution of Iranian drones to the Russian army “illustrates the limits of Russian capabilities”, he adds. Especially since Ukraine benefits from the contribution of drones, “most of which are delivered by NATO member countries such as Turkey”.
As noted The Washington Post, this revelation made by the White House comes as US President Joe Biden begins a tour of the Middle East, from July 13 to 16, which will take him to Israel and Saudi Arabia. A tour during which “he should talk to key allies on a unified regional policy towards Iran”.
“Iran has become, in recent years, a major manufacturer of drones” combat and reconnaissance aircraft, continues The Washington Post. They are used by several pro-Tehran armed groups across the Middle East, including in Syria and Iraq – where US military installations have been targeted in recent months – as well as in Yemen, from which installations in Arabia neighboring Saudi Arabia, particularly oil companies, have been affected.