ISFAHAN, Iran – Satellite photos appear to show that a recent Israeli strike on Iran's city of Isfahan caused more damage than Iranian officials admit. The strike, likely a retaliation for a recent Iranian attack on Israel, appears to have specifically targeted a radar system within Iran's Russian-made S-300 air defense network.
Despite Iran's attempts to downplay the significance of the attack, experts believe the strike sends a clear message. "Israel is showing they can get past Iran's air defenses," said Nicole Grajewski, an analyst at the Carnegie Endowment. "This was a very precise strike."
Details of the Attack
The satellite images show damage to a radar within an S-300 deployment area near Isfahan's airport. This system was likely used to protect Iran's nearby Natanz nuclear facility. Evidence suggests Israel employed advanced missiles launched from significant distances, possibly flying over Iraqi airspace.Iran's Response
Iran continues to deny any significant damage, describing the strike as minor and ineffectual. Analysts believe both Iran and Israel are now trying to de-escalate tensions following this recent exchange and in light of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.The Significance of the S-300
Iran's S-300 system, acquired from Russia after a lengthy delay, is a key part of its defense strategy. The targeted attack highlights Israel's capabilities and Iran's vulnerability. The incident also underscores the deepening ties between Iran and Russia, who collaborate closely in the war in Ukraine. Iran likely wants to obtain more advanced weaponry from Russia in the future.After Iran reached its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, Russia unfroze the deal and is believed to have given Iran four sets of an export variant of the S-300.
The relationship between Iran and Russia has deepened in recent years. Moscow relies heavily on Iran’s bomb-carrying Shahed drones to target sites across Ukraine as part of its war on the country. Those same drones featured in the Islamic Republic’s attack on Israel.
Tehran meanwhile has made repeated comments over recent years about trying to obtain Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets from Russia to improve its decades-old fighter fleet. In September, a Russian-made YAK-130 combat trainer aircraft entered service in Iran. That model can be used to train pilots for the Su-35.
Russia now has the S-400, but the S-300 which has a range of up to 200 kilometers (125 miles) and the capability to track down and strike multiple targets simultaneously, remains one of the most-potent air defence weapons in the world. The batteries can be used to shoot down missiles as well as aircraft.
Iran likely needs Russian assistance to repair the damaged radar — and will seek newer weapons as well as time goes on, Grajewski said.
“Iran wants new weapons from Russia all the time – to try to show that it’s not so isolated,” she said.
