Iran has images of sensitive Israeli military bases taken by a drone that was launched by Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement and downed by Israel earlier this month, a senior Iranian lawmaker claimed on October 29 in the latest claim from Tehran about purported advances in the capabilities of its unmanned aircraft. The announcement gave no details about the photos – other than calling the Israeli bases “forbidden sites” – but it suggested Iranian drones have the ability to transmit data while in flight. It also appeared aimed at warning Israel about the options for retaliation for any possible strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. A prominent lawmaker, Ismaeil Kowsari, also was quoted as saying that the Iranian-backed Hezbollah possesses more sophisticated Iranian-made drones than the one downed, including some that could carry weapons. There was no immediate comment from Israeli officials. “These drones transmit the pictures online,” Kowsari reportedly said. “The pictures of forbidden sites taken and transmitted by this drone are now in our possession.”
Iran’s Defence Minister Ahmad Vahid also claimed that Tehran has drones far more advanced than the Ayub unmanned aircraft launched by Hezbollah, saying it was not the “latest Iranian technology, definitely.”