(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran has identified 10 countries that have provided support in “defending” Israel to Iran’s launching of 300 ballistic missiles and suicide drones against the Jewish state two weeks ago.
IRGC spokesperson Brigadier General Ramezan Sharif stated that despite the assistance from these 10 countries, Iran’s counterattack on Israel, named “Operation True Promise,” successfully met its objectives including in breaching the much-vaunted Tel Aviv air defence system.
However, he did not disclose the names of the countries involved in defending Israel from the Iranian attacks.
On April 14, Iran launched ballistic missile and suicide drone strikes on various locations in Israel, retaliating against an Israeli attack on its consulate in Damascus, Syria, which resulted in the deaths of three senior military officers.
Although the specific countries aiding Israel’s defense were not mentioned by Iran, media outlets in both the Middle East and the West have reported them.
Among these, Jordan reportedly directed its fighter jets to shoot down the Iranian missiles and drones passing through its airspace en route to Israel.
This action by Jordan has drawn harsh criticism from the Arab and Islamic world.
Many among the Arab populace and Muslims worldwide have expressed shock at Jordan’s actions, as the country is perceived as “defending” Israel while the Jewish regime led by Benjamin Netanyahu is responsible for the deaths of over 34,000 Palestinian residents through its military actions in Gaza at this time.
Not only did Jordan reportedly deploy its fighter jets to intercept Iranian missiles targeting Israel, but Amman also opened its airspace to Israeli and United States aircraft to shoot down the Tehran-launched missiles and drones.
Facing harsh criticism from the Arab and Islamic world for its actions in “defending and protecting” Israel, which have been described as “backstabbing” the Palestinian people, the Jordanian government was compelled to issue a statement to clarify the situation.
Jordan’s government claimed that its actions, including the interception of missiles and drones and the opening of its airspace, were measures of self-defense and not intended to assist Israel.
The moves were aimed at neutralizing threats to its citizens and those in densely populated areas within Jordan.
Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reported that several Gulf Arab states, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, provided critical intelligence to help Israel counter the Iranian missile and drone assault.
The cooperation between these Gulf Arab states and Israel was led by the United States, which has been working for years to foster informal alliances among Arab nations to counter Tehran’s growing influence.
This partnership reportedly enabled the tracking of Iranian missiles and drones from the moment of launch, facilitating their interception by military forces in the region.
The American media reported that the involvement of Saudi Arabia and several other Arab nations in assisting Israel to counter the ballistic missile and suicide drone attacks was to be kept under wraps.
The Wall Street Journal also reported that two days before the attack on Israel, Iranian officials informed their counterparts in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Arab states about the actions they planned to take against the Jewish state.
Subsequently, these Gulf Arab nations informed the United States of Iran’s plans, thereby also aiding Israel in making the necessary preparations. — DSA