Sources say Pentagon acknowledges Iran's drone destructive power exceeds expectations
According to U.S. sources on the 7th, two informed individuals revealed that U.S. government officials stated during a closed-door briefing this week that the Iranian "Shahed-136" drones have demonstrated greater destructive power on the battlefield than previously anticipated by the Pentagon. Additionally, senior military commanders, including U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley, warned during the briefing that there are gaps in U.S. counter-drone technology, which could put U.S. forces and related facilities at greater risk. One participant in the briefing also noted that the U.S. defensive plans prepared for the Middle East are "inadequate".
Furthermore, according to data from the U.S. Department of Defense, the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has launched thousands of attack drones at U.S. military bases, and although most have been intercepted, some drones have still breached defenses and hit their targets.
U.S. officials reported that Iran's Shahed-136 drones have demonstrated greater destructive capabilities than previously anticipated. Senior military leaders highlighted vulnerabilities in U.S. anti-drone technology, indicating that current defense plans in the Middle East are insufficient. The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has launched thousands of drones at U.S. bases, with some successfully hitting targets despite interception efforts.
- U.S. officials acknowledged that the destructive power of Iran's Shahed-136 drones exceeded expectations.
- U.S. military leaders warned of gaps in anti-drone technology.
- Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has launched thousands of attack drones at U.S. bases in the Middle East.
- Most drones were intercepted, but some breached defenses and hit targets.