Israel fears Iran is trying to boost its air defences in Syria, Lebanon and Iraq

Israel fears Iran is trying to boost its air defences in Syria, Lebanon and Iraq
It comes after tensions between Iran and Syria continue to increase.
2 min read
27 October, 2021
Israel is believed to have carried out hundreds of strikes on Syria in recent years [JALAA MAREY/AFP via Getty Images]

Iran is attempting to reinforce its anti-air capacities across parts of Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria that Israel has reportedly been bombing, Israeli security officials have claimed.

Intelligence briefings given to Israeli MPs over previous months assert that Tehran is attempting to bring surface-to-air missile batteries to the areas, Haaretz reported on Tuesday.

The intended goal is to impede Israel's aerial assaults in Syria and take its warplanes out, the military claims.

Syrian regime forces have fired missiles at Israeli aircraft in Syria using technology created by Iran.

Tehran's anti-air technology has boosted the Syrian regime's potential to combat Israel in the sky, Israeli security insiders told local media.

This has allowed Syrian air defence units to respond to Israeli assaults quicker and more effectively.

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Israeli figures are worried such capabilities might end up in the hands of other Iran-aligned factions, including Yemen's Houthi rebels and Lebanon's Hezbollah.

They also claim that Tehran is increasing its use of drones in fighting Israel via Iran-backed groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah.

Israel is seeking to find and destroy these weapons.

The country is believed to have been behind many strikes inside regime-controlled parts of Syria in recent years. Israel rarely acknowledges or discusses such operations.

Its military is set to acquire further Iron Dome anti-missile defences within the next two years or so. It has also called on defence firms to produce laser technology capable of taking out rocket fire beginning in 2022.