Israel Deploys Iron Drone Batteries in Eilat amid Concerns of Iranian Attack

An Israeli Iron Dome defense system deployed in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights near the border with Syria, on May 7, 2018. (AFP)
An Israeli Iron Dome defense system deployed in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights near the border with Syria, on May 7, 2018. (AFP)
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Israel Deploys Iron Drone Batteries in Eilat amid Concerns of Iranian Attack

An Israeli Iron Dome defense system deployed in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights near the border with Syria, on May 7, 2018. (AFP)
An Israeli Iron Dome defense system deployed in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights near the border with Syria, on May 7, 2018. (AFP)

Israel deployed Iron Drone batteries around the southern Red Sea city of Eilat amid concerns of an attack from the Iran-backed Houthi militias in Yemen.

Military sources said that Tel Aviv takes very seriously the Iranian threats to avenge the killings of nuclear physicist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh in November and Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force Gen. Qassem Soleimani a year ago.

The sources predicted several scenarios, including a ballistic attack on Eilat, which is located at a distance of around 1,800 kilometers from Yemen.

They said Iran’s Revolutionary Guard recently provided the Houthis with cruise missiles with a range of 2,000 kms and Israel was ready to strongly respond to any attack.

The Iron Dome is an integral part of Israel’s multi-layered defense system. It is generally used against rockets and mortar shells, but can also intercept small drones and cruise missiles.

Last month, military spokesperson Hidai Zilberman said Israel was tracking Iranian movements around the region, and that Israeli submarines were quietly “sailing everywhere.”

Meanwhile, Israeli sources confirmed that two US B-52 bombers flew over its airspace on their way to the Gulf – the fourth flyover in the past two months – in a sign of deterrence against Iran.

Also, in a show of military strength from Washington in the region, a US Navy nuclear submarine passed through the Strait of Hormuz late last month and entered the Gulf.

Washington had also sent the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, which arrived in the Gulf in November.

In December, the head of US Central Command (Centcom) said Washington is “prepared to react” if Iran carries out an attack to mark one year since the killing of Soleimani.



Ukraine Receives F-16s from Netherlands, 1st Mirage Jets from France

A serviceman of the 25th Separate Airborne Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, carries a Shark reconnaissance drone, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near the frontline town of Pokrovsk in Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 5, 2025. REUTERS/Oleksandr Klymenko
A serviceman of the 25th Separate Airborne Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, carries a Shark reconnaissance drone, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near the frontline town of Pokrovsk in Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 5, 2025. REUTERS/Oleksandr Klymenko
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Ukraine Receives F-16s from Netherlands, 1st Mirage Jets from France

A serviceman of the 25th Separate Airborne Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, carries a Shark reconnaissance drone, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near the frontline town of Pokrovsk in Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 5, 2025. REUTERS/Oleksandr Klymenko
A serviceman of the 25th Separate Airborne Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, carries a Shark reconnaissance drone, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near the frontline town of Pokrovsk in Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 5, 2025. REUTERS/Oleksandr Klymenko

Ukraine said on Thursday it had received a first batch of French Mirage 2000 fighter jets as well as US-made F-16 fighters from the Netherlands as European allies seek to strengthen Kyiv's hand in its war with Russia.

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion three years ago, Ukraine had only a largely outdated air force inherited from the Soviet Union when it broke up in 1991.

Now facing Russian advances in the east and long-range air strikes, Ukraine has repeatedly pressed Western allies to supply it with increasingly advanced arms and ammunition including armoured vehicles, tanks, long-range missiles and F-16 fighters.

Mirage 2000s are the latest sophisticated jets Ukraine has received from allies after the first F-16s arrived last summer, marking a military milestone for the country.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy praised France and the Netherlands for their commitment to helping modernise Ukraine's air force.

"These modern combat aircraft have already arrived in Ukraine and will soon begin carrying out combat missions, strengthening our defense and enhancing our ability to effectively counter Russian aggression," Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said.

The exact number of F-16 and Mirage jets delivered was not revealed.
The Dutch defense ministry said that for security reasons it would not comment on the timing of deliveries, nor on the amount supplied at any given time.

The Netherlands has promised to deliver Ukraine a total of 24 F-16s, next to the fighter jets it supplies to a training center for Ukrainian pilots and crew in Romania.

French officials also cited security reasons in declining to specify how many warplanes had been supplied, although they did say the jets had been adapted to enable air-to-ground strikes, Reuters reported.

The Mirage 2000 is a multi-role, single-engine jet fighter. Last June, President Emmanuel Macron promised that France would train Ukrainian pilots to fly the Dassault-made jets, crossing a new line in military support for Kyiv.

The Mirage, which has been replaced by the Rafale fighter in the French air force, was initially conceived for aerial dogfights.
A French parliamentary report at the end of 2024 said that of the 26 Mirage 2000s in the French air force, six would be given to Ukraine.
France will on February 12 host a meeting with Ukraine, its main European allies, Britain and the United States to discuss how to strengthen support for Kyiv.