Arab media reports that Iran has transferred electromagnetic pulse weapons (EMP weapons) to the Lebanese group Hezbollah. Business Insider reports this.
“Sources in the Qods Force, a branch of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reportedly told the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Jarida that “the Lebanese side now has bombs and missiles with ‘electromagnetic’ warheads.” The source said that “the bombs delivered to the party [“Хезболле”]”They can be launched from fixed launchers, and some of them can be launched by drones to reach any point deep inside Israel.” This weapon “could destroy all communications systems, including the electrical grid, and thus stop all electronic systems that Israel relies on to coordinate its radars, aircraft and forces in general.” – the article says.
According to Arab media, Israel’s allies will not be immune if Israel attacks Lebanon either. Americans, British and anyone who supports Israel will be targeted.
The story was quickly picked up by Israeli media. This could be true or a hoax to make nuclear-armed Israel think twice, Business Insider notes. It is difficult to assess the credibility of the Iranian EMP threat, the publication stresses.
“Iran has spent years investing in nuclear weapons development (whether research has stopped, as Iran claims, or continues, as Israel and some Americans claim, is a matter of debate). It has demonstrated real capabilities in developing various ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles, and Tehran is exporting its Shahed-136 attack drone to Russia. All of this suggests that Iran has the means to attack Israel and Europe, but it does not tell us whether EMP warheads exist,” the article notes.
“I think they will view EMP as a weapon that can be used in gray zone activities below the level of open conflict. Especially if it can be used to achieve more specific results, such as disabling electronics in a specific geographic area,” the retired general told Business Insider. joseph votelformer head of the U.S. Central Command and now a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, a think tank in Washington.
Another question is: Will Iran provide EMP weapons to Hezbollah, its most important proxy?
“Of all the members of the so-called axis of resistance, Hezbollah would be a likely candidate to receive such weapons. But I have not seen any evidence that this is the case. As with most accessibility capabilities, their implementation must come with a certain level of training and sophistication.” Votel emphasized.
Providing Hezbollah with EMP weapons could lead Israel and other countries to hold Iran accountable, the paper concludes.
