In the middle of the Middle East war
Iran presents new air defense systems
February 17, 2024, 9:56 p.m
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Iran’s arch-enemy Israel is waging war against Hamas. Since then, pro-Iranian militias have increased their attacks on US bases in the region. Tehran denies involvement in the clashes – and is now introducing new weapons systems.
Amid the tense situation in the Middle East, Iran has presented two new air defense systems, according to media reports. “This morning the Defense Ministry-built Arman missile defense system and the Asarakhsh low-altitude air defense system were unveiled,” state news agency Irna reported. With these systems, “the air defense capability of the Islamic Republic of Iran will increase significantly,” it said.
According to Iranian Defense Minister Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, the Arman system can “identify targets at a distance of 180 kilometers and attack and destroy them at a distance of 120 kilometers.” According to Iranian sources, the Asarakh system can be mounted on multiple types of vehicles and uses “radars, electro-optical systems and thermal seekers” to detect and track its target.
The presentation of the new defense systems comes at a time of high regional tensions and a war between Iran’s arch-enemy Israel and the radical Islamic Hamas, which is supported by Tehran. Iran welcomed Hamas’ October 7 surprise attack on Israel, but denied any involvement. Since the beginning of the war, pro-Iranian militias in the region have increased their attacks on the US-led military coalition. In one of these attacks on a military base in Jordan, three US soldiers were killed at the end of January. Washington blamed the Iranian-backed Islamic Resistance group in Iraq for the attack.
According to Israeli information, Hamas, classified as a terrorist organization by the EU and the USA, killed around 1,200 people and kidnapped around 250 others as hostages in the Gaza Strip in its major attack on Israel on October 7th. In response, Israel launched a large-scale military operation in the Gaza Strip and declared the destruction of Hamas its goal. Since then, thousands of people have been killed in the Gaza Strip.