An Israeli attack on Iran has reportedly damaged a Russian-made S-300 air defense system, raising concerns about the system’s effectiveness. The attack, which occurred on Friday, targeted an S-300 radar system, a critical component for target tracking, according to Western and Iranian officials and satellite imagery analysis.

Israel launched the attack early on Friday, targeting the central Iranian city of Isfahan. Air defenses responded by firing at a “suspicious object” near the city, but Iran intercepted three quadcopter drones. Anonymous Western and Iranian sources suggest that Israeli warplanes also fired a missile at Iran.

The damaged S-300 system was positioned near the Natanz uranium enrichment facility, a key Iranian nuclear site. Iran purchased the S-300s from Russia in 2016 for $800 million, hoping to deter Israeli strikes.

Russia, increasingly isolated after its invasion of Ukraine, has strengthened ties with Iran. Moscow has used Iranian drones in its war effort, and Tehran is reportedly supplying Moscow with ballistic missiles.

The attack on the S-300 system comes after Iran launched its first direct attack on Israel from its territory earlier this month, firing missiles and drones that caused minor damage. Iran claimed the attack was retaliation for an Israeli strike on its consulate in Damascus, Syria. Israel has not claimed or denied responsibility for that strike.

Following Friday’s attacks, Iran’s foreign minister downplayed the possibility of future strikes. CONTINUE READING