Iran Strikes U.S. Military Communication Infrastructure in Mideast
nytimes.comThis is the new 'cheap drone' tactic on full display and it reveals I think what most people don't realize and that is AA networks are not comprehensive.
Most places have little to nothing in the way of AA defence.
Especially civilian infrastructure.
If Iran has enough stockpiles, this will be 'not good' and they could play an ugly asymmetric game here.
People get upset when their water doesn't run, or the shopping mall is hit by drones, toilet won't flush. Etc.
> People get upset when their water doesn't run
Middle east summer without working running water, electricity for aircon, water desalination etc would indeed be be "ugly, not good".
One of Ukraine's successful tactics is damaging their opponent's petroleum processing and export facilities with "cheap drones", to deny them income. These facilities are very flammable if you try. That tactic would translate exactly.
Sadly, Russia is the leader in the tactic. Ukraine has made some inroads slowing oil and gas down, but Russia's attacks on Ukraine infra have been devestating.
Iran and Russia are are loosely allied, so I'm sure that Iran is capable of learning from Russia. Taking out power and heat in winter won't work so well in the middle-east, but I suppose that taking out power and cooling in summer is analogous.
The Shahed drones Russia is using are of Iranian origin, though now mostly made in Russia in factories setup and supplied by China.
Hitting airports and hotels alone will rattle those places very hard.
And with Hormuz closed it could cause severe damage to their economic systems, it's not a joke.
Both sides are hitting oil processing facilities as well now. And water desalination.
It's indeed no joke.