Israeli Air Force shoots down Iranian Shahed-136 drone

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Israeli Air Force shoots down Iranian Shahed-136 drone

The Israeli Air Force intercepted and shot down a drone that entered Israeli airspace overnight in the Beit She’an Valley, the military confirmed.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the drone originated “from the east,” a term the IDF has used previously to refer to drone attacks by Iran-backed militias operating from Iraq.

Fragments of the downed drone suggest that it may have been an Iranian-made Shahed-136, the same model used by Russia in its ongoing military campaign in Ukraine. The Shahed-136, a loitering munition or “kamikaze drone,” has been widely deployed by Iranian proxy groups in the region.

The Shahed-136, launched in 2021, has an estimated operational range of up to 2,500 kilometers, making it capable of long-range missions. However, despite its range, the drone’s maximum speed of approximately 185 kilometers per hour leaves it vulnerable to interception by advanced air defense systems like those operated by the Israeli Air Force. Its payload capacity is around 50 kilograms, limiting the damage it can inflict compared to larger unmanned systems.

While Iran has not publicly commented on the downed drone, Israel has been on high alert for threats from Iranian proxies in the region, particularly following recent escalations. Israel has been increasingly vocal about Iranian involvement in regional conflicts and the supply of advanced weaponry to groups that pose a direct threat to its security.

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Israeli Air Force shoots down Iranian Shahed-136 drone

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