Yaakov Lappin
IPT News, Dec. 7, 2021
“Iran’s proxies, such as an Iranian-backed Shi’ite militias in Iraq, can decide to fire sophisticated ballistic or cruise missiles at Riyadh or Tel Aviv, from the same Iraqi launchpads.”
Three weapons systems form a triangle at the heart of the Islamic Republic’s program to entrench itself in the Middle East. Precision-guided missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and surface-to-air missiles are finding their way into increasing areas, and into radical hands.
Iran is present in several Arab states suffering from weak sovereignty, infiltrating with proxy forces, arms, and money. Now, Tehran hopes to be able to spread its fundamentalist Shi’ite agenda with greater force, by equipping its proxy forces with new levels of military systems.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei’s goal is to paint as much of the regional map in Iranian colors as it can, reaching eventual hegemony, and to bring down any state that stands in his way, whether Jewish or Sunni. Those investments are evident in Yemen, Gaza, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon. As the ballistic missile attack on Saudi capital Riyadh on Monday illustrates, the firepower that Iran spreads around the region does not remain in storehouses.
Iran manufactures advanced weapons, and the Quds Force’s regional smuggling network then distributes them to the proxies. Iran thereby becomes more threatening to the security of America’s key allies in the region, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan.
IPT Senior Fellow Yaakov Lappin is a military and strategic affairs correspondent. He also conducts research and analysis for defense think tanks, and is the military correspondent for JNS. His book, The Virtual Caliphate, explores the online jihadist presence.
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