Tel Aviv: A new combat duel between Israeli and Iranian made weapon systems is expected soon. This time in Eastern Europe after Armenia decided to purchase Iranian made weapon systems to be used in its military conflict with Azerbaijan, a major client of Israeli made systems.
According to Iran International, the website operated from London by the opposition to the regime in Tehran, Iran and Armenia have inked a significant $500 million military contract.
Since the fall of Soviet control in the early 1990s, Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought two significant wars, with Azerbaijan regaining huge portions of its territory in 2020. The main theater of the protracted battle, Nagorno-Karabakh, was taken over by its forces last year. January 1, 2024 marked the official dissolution of the ethnic Armenian enclave in Nagorno-Karabakh following Azerbaijan’s lightning onslaught and occupation of the region on September 19, 2023.
The defence ties between Azerbaijan and Israel are very close. This country has a long border with Iran. Azerbaijan has in recent years purchased some Israeli developed weapon systems including loitering weapon systems to answer specific operational requirements. These systems were used extensively during the Nagorno-Karabakh war in 2020 between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Video clips from the war zone showed heavy use of Israeli loitering weapon systems by the Azeris. In 2018 the Azeris acquired the Elbit Systems’ SkyStriker loitering weapon system as part of its plan to acquire autonomous strike capabilities.
In the past, Azerbaijan has purchased another loitering weapon system, the Harop made by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). The Harop has been developed to destroy high quality targets. It also purchased the Lora – long range surface to surface precise rocket.
The new deal signed between Iran and Armenia is expected soon to create confrontations between the two countries where Israeli systems will be used against Iranian made ones.
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
