'Israel' provides NATO with detailed data on Iranian drones: Haaretz

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
16 Dec 2022 22:53
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Israeli media reports that "Tel Aviv's" ambassador to EU and NATO provided that alliance's deputy secretary general with information on Iranian drones especially Shahed-136.

Shahed-136 drone launched during military exercises in Iran

According to Israeli media, the occupation entity has been increasingly providing Ukraine with intel on Iranian drones through NATO.

Haaretz reported citing a NATO official that "Israel" aims to continue supporting Kiev under the radar and indirectly.

The media report added that increased Iranian aid to Moscow prompted "Tel Aviv" to show more leniency toward helping Ukraine, most notably the reported training of Russian forces in Russia by Iran.

An Israeli source told the news outlet that the best response to the Russian-Iranian increased military cooperation is to strengthen Israeli-NATO ties.

The report claims that nearly 6 weeks ago, Israeli Security Minister Benny Gantz and Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi rejected a suggestion by Ukraine's minister of defense to provide Tel Aviv with information on Iran's drones that are being downed over his country.

"These details would have come in return for the passing on of Israeli intelligence," according to Haaretz.

"Israel feared that Russia might respond by hampering the Israel Air Force's freedom in Syria's skies, as Iran tries to deepen its presence against Israel to the north," the media outlet said, adding that, " American pressure and the stepped-up Iranian aid to Russia have convinced Israel to abandon its policy of apathy."

Earlier in November, Haaretz also reported that the Israeli occupation entity spent millions of dollars to appease its western partners by procuring undisclosed strategic materials for Ukraine after "Tel Aviv" faced pressure to send the arms to Kiev via a NATO member state.

Reportedly, the United States is the party that pressured the occupation, which had to go against its proclaimed stance to only send humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.

According to the report, "Israel" provided NATO with a detailed document regarding Iranian drones, with a focus on Shahed-136, during a meeting earlier between Israel’s ambassador to the EU and NATO and the coalition's deputy secretary general, Mircea Geoana.

The file was, "adapted so as not to divulge sources and methods of operation," the report mentioned.