Iran plans to supply hundreds of weapons-capable drones to Russia for use UkraineAccording to a top US official.
The White House’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said information received by the US supported views that Russia’s heavy bombing of Ukraine, which has led in recent weeks to consolidate gains in the country’s east, “We’re coming at the cost of protection” with our own weapons.
“The Iranian government is preparing to provide Russia with several hundred UAVs” [unmanned aerial vehicles]Including UAVs capable of weapons, in a timely manner,” Sullivan said.
“Our information further indicates that Iran is preparing to train Russian forces to use these UAVs, with initial training sessions scheduled to begin in early July.”
Sullivan said it was not clear whether Iran has yet delivered any drones to Russia.
He said Iranian drones were used by Houthi rebels in Yemen to attack Saudi Arabia.
Drones have played a vital role in both sides of the war in Ukraine, from remotely firing missiles to dropping small bombs on targets, conducting reconnaissance for artillery forces and ground troops.
Ukraine’s military has had particular success using Turkish-made Beraktar armed combat UAVs, and the US and other allies have supplied Kyiv with a variety of small drones.
Sullivan said, “From our point of view, we will continue to do our part to help maintain an effective defense of Ukraine and help show Ukrainians that the Russian attempt to get Ukraine off the map may not be successful.” “
Sullivan’s revelation comes on the eve of President Joe Biden’s visits to Israel and Saudi Arabia, where Iran’s nuclear program and deadly activities in the region will be major topics of discussion.
The US’s decision to publicly reveal that the two countries’ main regional rivals were helping to reunify Russia came as both Israel and Saudi Arabia sought to punish Russia for an invasion of Ukraine because of their domestic interests. to join the global effort.
russian Offensive grinding in the east of Ukraine Despite fierce Ukrainian resistance from recent deliveries of Western-supplied artillery, it is set to continue, with the Ukrainian military warning that Russian forces were planning to launch some of their heaviest attacks yet in the Donetsk region.
With no end to the fighting in sight, the Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, said during a visit to Kyiv that his country would supply Ukraine with more long-range artillery and a €200m (US$201m) aid package.
Western weapons – especially precision, long-range artillery – were “already changing the course of the war,” the secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, Oleksey Danilov, said on Monday.