Russia and Iran are using Ukraine and Israel as “battlefield laboratories” to probe at Western military vulnerabilities, experts told a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee Wednesday.
The hearing comes just days after Iran launched an unprecedented aerial attack on Israel.
The Israeli military said Iran fired approximately 170 drones, 120 ballistic missiles and 30 cruise missiles; nearly all were shot down.
“Recently, leadership at the U.S. Central Command expressed worry that Russia may soon provide Iran with Russian SU-35 aircraft in exchange for Iranian drones and weapons,” Rep. Gabe Amo (D-R.I.) said.
“Just imagine what an attack [against Israel] with advanced fighters would have looked like,” Amo added.
Lawmakers across the subcommittee called on the House to pass the long-stalled defense spending package for aid in Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific, citing President Biden’s “strong support” announced in a statement Wednesday.
“I will sign this into law immediately to send a message to the world: We stand with our friends, and we won’t let Iran or Russia succeed,” Biden said.
“The world’s on fire, and we cannot bury our heads in the sand,” Rep. Ann Wagner (R-Mo.)
A House Foreign Affairs subcommittee was informed on Wednesday by experts that Russia and Iran are exploiting Israel and the Ukraine as “battlefield laboratories” to investigate Western military weaknesses.
Russia, along with Iran, is utilizing the Middle East and Ukraine as combat research grounds to enhance their armaments and devise strategies to defeat U.S. S. and allied defensive systems,” Dana Stroul, the Washington Institute’s director of research, informed lawmakers during a hearing on the “Despotic Duo.”. “.
In her statement, Stroul stated that Iran was gaining knowledge about combined strike packages and the advantages and disadvantages of air and missile defense systems built in the West from Russia.
The hearing is taking place just a few days after Iran attacked Israel with an unprecedented aerial strike. According to the Israeli military, Iran fired about 170 drones, 120 ballistic missiles, and 30 cruise missiles, almost all of which were shot down.
Stroul and other witnesses stated that Iran’s attack on Israel bore a striking resemblance to attacks on Ukraine that were repeatedly carried out by Russia. “.
Rep. said that Russia has benefited from its military and political contacts with Tehran during the Syrian civil war. Tom Kean, Republican-N. A. J. ( ).
“The best way to punish the aggressor and a manifestation of the tact and rationality of Iran’s leaders,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said of Iran’s attempted strike on Israel on Monday. “.
The experts testifying on Wednesday claimed that the relationship between the two countries has changed, with Iran gaining greater capabilities in exchange for Russia’s dependence on Iranian weapons to sustain its invasion of Ukraine and reduce Russia’s influence over the regime.
Gabriel Noronha of the Jewish Institute for the National Security of America stated, “One of the most recent developments that we must disrupt is increased Russian and Iranian weapons and munitions products that will help Russia overrun Ukraine, but tomorrow could help Iran overwhelm Israel.”.
“Recently, leadership at the U. S. Concerns were raised by Central Command that Iran might soon receive Russian SU-35 aircraft in return for Iranian weaponry and drones. Rep. Gabriel Amo (D-R. I. ] declared.
“Can you just picture the kind of attack [on Israel] that would have been possible with cutting-edge fighters?” stated Amo.
Senior fellow Behnam Ben Taleblu of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies forewarned the U.S. S. gives its adversaries the confidence to bolster one another because of “the perception of political irresolution and strategic drift emanating from Washington.”. “.
Taleblu stated in a written statement, “The Islamic Republic has received gold, cash, Russian diplomatic cover, captured Western weapons, and contracts for advanced weapons like the SU-35.”.
Amid President Biden’s “strong support,” which was declared in a statement released on Wednesday, lawmakers from all across the subcommittee urged the House to approve the defense spending bill that has been sitting on the table for a while in order to help aid in Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific region.
Biden declared, “I will immediately sign this into law to send a message to the world: We stand with our friends, and we won’t let Iran or Russia succeed.”.
We cannot put our heads in the sand when the world is on fire, said Representative. Missourian Ann Wagner, R. ] declared.
