Israeli Defence Minister Accuses Iran of Launching Maritime Attacks From UAV Bases

According to the defence minister, in addition to launching attacks from the bases, Tehran also used them for storing combat drones.

Israel has accused Iran of launching maritime attacks with unmanned aerial vehicles from bases in Chabahar and Qeshm island in the country's south.

The statement was made by Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz. He described it as a first public disclosure as he was addressing a security conference hosted by Reichman University in Herzliya.

"One of the key tools is UAVs and precision weapons, which can reach strategic targets within thousands of kilometres, and thus this capability is already endangering Sunni countries, international troops in the Middle East and also countries in Europe and Africa,” the defence minister said, as quoted by the Jerusalem Post.

Defense Minister, Benny Gantz spoke at a strategic policy conference at Reichman University @IPS_Herzliya and revealed:

“#Iran attempted to transfer explosives from Syria to terrorists based in Judea and Samaria, using an unmanned aircraft.”

Photo: Ariel Hermoni / IMoD pic.twitter.com/c1ZXsf7DxB

— Yoni Kempinski (@Yoni_Kempinski) November 23, 2021

Minister Gantz also exposed two bases in southern Iran, Chabahar and Qeshm, used to launch UAV attacks on maritime targets.

— Yoni Kempinski (@Yoni_Kempinski) November 23, 2021

Gantz added that the bases were also used by Iran for storing combat drones.

He also said that Iran’s drone program was a threat not only to Israel but to the entire region.

“We have seen the attack on Aramco, the launching of drones from Syria, the attempts by Iran to build capabilities for Hezbollah to precisely launch explosive drones at Israel,” he said, referring to the attack on Aramco petroleum company in Saudi Arabia in 2019.

This comes as the negotiations on Iran's nuclear deal (JCPOA) are set to resume in Vienna next week. Speaking during a security conference in Herzliya on Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennet said that Israel had opposed the deal in 2015 and will continue to oppose it, even if the US returns to it.

“Even if there is a return to an agreement [with Iran], Israel is not a side to it, is not obligated by it,” Bennett said, as quoted by the Jerusalem Post.

*The original headline has been changed to correct UAE to UAV.