Israel has warned Russia that Ukraine might get Israeli high-precision ballistic missiles if Russia proceeds with its plan to receive Iranian ballistic missiles, the Israeli TV channel Kan-11 reports, citing its own sources.
According to Kan-11, the Israeli Foreign Ministry protested against Russia’s purchase of Iranian drones. The Israeli ambassador to Moscow gave the note of protest to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov. As well, Kan-11 reported that the Head of the Israeli National Security Headquarters Eyal Hulata warned Russia against purchasing Iranian ballistic missiles at a forum in Bahrein and said if this happens, Israel will begin delivering precision-guided missiles to Ukraine.
ישראל מחתה בפני רוסיה על השימוש בכטב"מים איראניים על אדמת אוקראינה. החשש במערכת הביטחון: איראן קרובה למסור טילים בליסטיים לרוסיה@gilicohen10 | #חדשותהערב pic.twitter.com/h7y1yinbiq
— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) November 20, 2022
Kan does not report on the type of ballistic missiles that can be supplied to Ukraine, but most analysts and experts assumed that they will be Israeli-produced missiles, the Israeli outlet 9tv.co.oil reported.
The Ukrainian defense publication Defense Express notes that most likely, if Israel decides to supply ballistic missiles to Ukraine, they will be Lora missiles supplied to Azerbaijan during the war in Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020. With an operational range of 400 km and a payload of 570 kg, these missiles “may be considered an even better system than American ATACMS,” the publication writes.
Israel has steered clear from providing Ukraine with any weapons. Yet, since Russia’s increased cooperation with Iran, which has supplied reportedly thousands of Shahed-136 drones, Israel has warmed up to get more involved in Ukraine’s defense.
In mid-October, Washington Post reported that Iran planned to supply Fateh-110 and Zolfaghar short- and medium-range ballistic missiles to Russia, which are capable of striking targets at 300 and 700 km away, respectively, Ukraine’s intelligence has confirmed these plans. However, on 21 November, Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat suggested that due to certain diplomatic factors, the process of Iran’s transfer of missiles to Russia could have slowed down.
Iran poses a tremendous danger to the world – Israel’s Ambassador to Ukraine
Under US pressure, Israel funded ‘strategic materials’ for Ukraine – Haaretz citing EU sources
