US warns Iran against providing ballistic missiles to Russia

Speaking at a virtual briefing with reporters, White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby said Washington has yet to see confirmation that missiles have moved from Iran to Russia.

 An Iranian missile is displayed during an unveiling ceremony in Tehran, Iran, in this picture obtained on February 17, 2024.  (photo credit: Iran's Defense Ministry/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS)
An Iranian missile is displayed during an unveiling ceremony in Tehran, Iran, in this picture obtained on February 17, 2024.
(photo credit: Iran’s Defense Ministry/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS)
The Biden administration on Thursday warned Iran of a “swift and severe” response from the international community if Tehran provided ballistic missiles to Russia, after Reuters reported earlier this week that the Islamic Republic shipped the powerful weapons to Moscow.

Speaking at a virtual briefing with reporters, White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby said Washington has yet to see confirmation that missiles have moved from Iran to Russia.

Reuters exclusively reported on Wednesday that Iran has provided Russia with a large number of powerful surface-to-surface ballistic missiles, citing six sources, a move that illustrated the deepening military cooperation between the two US-sanctioned countries.

“In this press reporting, the Iranians are clearly indicating that they will ship ballistic missiles to Russia, and we have no reason to believe they will not follow through,” Kirby said.

 Smoke rises in the sky over the city after a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine November 25, 2023. (credit: REUTERS/GLEB GARANICH)Enlrage image
Smoke rises in the sky over the city after a Russian drone strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine November 25, 2023. (credit: REUTERS/GLEB GARANICH)

“For our part, we will take this matter to the UN Security Council,” he added. “We will implement additional sanctions against Iran. And we will coordinate further response options with our allies and partners in Europe and elsewhere.”

Iran’s provision of around 400 missiles includes many from the Fateh-110 family of short-range ballistic weapons, such as the Zolfaghar, three Iranian sources told Reuters. This road-mobile missile is capable of striking targets at a distance of between 300 km and 700 km (186 miles and 435 miles), experts say.

The shipments began in early January after a deal was finalized in meetings in Tehran and Moscow late last year between Iranian and Russian military and security officials, one of the Iranian sources said.

Iranian drones used to attack Ukraine

Iranian-made Shahed drones supplied to Moscow have played a major role in Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure but supply of ballistic missiles would be a sign of even deeper cooperation.

Iran has been supplying Russia with a significant number of drones, guided aerial bombs and artillery ammunition, which Russia has been using, to some effect, to attack Ukraine, Kirby said.

“In response to Iran’s ongoing support for Russia’s brutal war, we will be imposing additional sanctions on Iran in the coming days, and we are prepared to go further if Iran sells ballistic missiles to Russia,” Kirby said.

UN Security Council restrictions on Iran’s export of some missiles, drones and other technologies expired in October. However, the United States and European Union retained sanctions on Iran’s ballistic missile program amid concerns over exports of weapons to its proxies in the Middle East and to Russia.


Hezbollah is arguing that so far, it has only targeted the border communities, but it has threatened to target more of Israel.

 Hezbollah (photo credit:  (Photo: MAHMOUD ZAYYAT/AFP via Getty Images, MAHMOUD ZAYYAT/AFP via Getty Images))
Hezbollah
(photo credit: (Photo: MAHMOUD ZAYYAT/AFP via Getty Images, MAHMOUD ZAYYAT/AFP via Getty Images))
Sheikh Naim Qassem, the deputy leader of Hezbollah, spelled out the terrorist group’s policy in regards to Israel, according to recent reports in pro-government media in Iran.

This Hezbollah official emphasized, “We will never retreat in the field, and we will advance according to the conditions, and if the enemy’s aggression expands, our operations will also become more intense, and we will be victorious,” he said.

The comments come after Hezbollah continued to carry out rocket attacks on Israel this week. It targeted numerous areas along the border on February 21, including near Metulla and also near Shlomi on the border.

Hezbollah also carried out an ATGM attack on a winery and has launched drones at Israel this week. Hezbollah, however, also says that it is only escalating incrementally.

Hezbollah claims following attacks

Hezbollah propaganda claims it is “pushing” Israel back. It also says that the “ceiling of confrontation has been limited.” By limited, they mean firing thousands of rockets at Israel and hundreds of ATGMs as well as numerous kamikaze drones. Hezbollah has killed civilians and soldiers in its attacks.

 Lebanon's Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah appears on a screen as he gives a televised address during a rally commemorating the group's late leaders in Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon February 16, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/MOHAMED AZAKIR)Enlrage image
Lebanon’s Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah appears on a screen as he gives a televised address during a rally commemorating the group’s late leaders in Beirut’s southern suburbs, Lebanon February 16, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/MOHAMED AZAKIR)

However, Israel has retaliated, with the air force striking more than 1,000 targets in the north. Hezbollah is warning Israel against expanding its retaliations.

Hezbollah is arguing that so far, it has only targeted the border communities, but it has threatened to target more of Israel. Meanwhile, Israeli citizens continue to be evacuated from the north. They have been living in hotels for four months.

Hezbollah has also watched closely what is going on in Gaza. Recently, reports said Hezbollah wants Hamas to climb down from its high demands so that a ceasefire might be achieved in a hostage deal.

Another report says that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar counted on Hezbollah joining his war against Israel. However, Hezbollah preferred incremental attacks.

Hezbollah also monitored US-Israel ties after October 7 and took into account the fact that the US wanted Hezbollah to refrain from a major attack. Hezbollah believes that Israel was also discouraged from escalating in the north, the article says.


Three Palestinian gunmen open fire at Israelis waiting in traffic a few hundred meters from az-Za’ayyem checkpoint, between Ma’ale Adumim and capital

 

Police at the scene of a terror shooting attack outside of Ma'ale Adumim in the West Bank, February 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

Police at the scene of a terror shooting attack outside of Ma’ale Adumim in the West Bank, February 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

An Israeli man was killed and 11 others were wounded in a terror shooting attack carried out by three Palestinian gunmen near a checkpoint between Jerusalem and the West Bank settlement city of Ma’ale Adumim on Thursday morning, police and medics said.

According to police, the trio opened fire with automatic weapons at Israelis waiting in traffic while heading toward Jerusalem on the Route 1 highway, a few hundred meters before the az-Za’ayyem checkpoint, close to the West Bank town of the same name.

A man in his 20s was killed in the shooting, medical officials said. He was not immediately named.

The Magen David Adom ambulance service said it treated a total of 12 people, including the young man who was declared dead at the scene.

A woman aged 23 was listed in serious condition, and four others were in moderate condition, including a woman in her 30s, a man aged 23, a man aged 51, and a woman aged 52, MDA said.

Another five people were treated for minor injuries and acute anxiety, it added. All the victims were taken to hospitals in Jerusalem.

People at the scene of a terror shooting attack outside of Ma’ale Adumim in the West Bank. February 22, 2024. ( Chaim Goldberg/FLASH90)

Two of the gunmen were shot dead by security forces and armed civilians at the scene. The third gunman initially fled, before being “neutralized” a short while later, following police searches in the area, law enforcement officials said. His condition was not immediately known.

Images shared by police showed that the trio, residents of the Bethlehem area, were armed with assault rifles, makeshift submachine guns, and a grenade.

This handout photo from police shows weapons used by Palestinian terrorists in a shooting attack near Ma’ale Adumim, February 22, 2024. (Israel Police)

The Shin Bet security agency identified the terrorists as Muhammad Zawahra, 26, and his brother Kathem Zawahra, 31, both residents of the village of Ta’amra, and Ahmed Al-Wahsh, 31, a resident of Za’atara.

Kathem Zawahra had been previously jailed for entering Israel illegally, the Shin Bet said.

The terror attack came amid Israel’s war against the Hamas terror group in the Gaza Strip.

Tensions in Israel and the West Bank have been high since October 7, when some 3,000 terrorists burst through the Gaza border into Israel in a Hamas-led attack, killing at least 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and seizing 253 hostages.

Police at the scene of a terror shooting attack on Route 1 near Ma’ale Adumim, in the West Bank, February 22, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

Israel responded with an aerial campaign and subsequent ground operation with the goal of destroying Hamas and ending its 16-year rule over Gaza and securing the release of the hostages.

The Israel Defense Forces has continued to operate throughout the West Bank and police have been on high alert in Israel, in light of concerns about a possible escalation of violence.