Israel has restricted the deployment of Hermes-900 drones in operations against Iranian targets following substantial drone losses since the start of hostilities.
Israel Restricts Drone Usage After Losses
A specialized portal reported that Israel has limited the use of Hermes-900 drones in operations against targets in Iran due to significant losses sustained since the beginning of the conflict. Israeli military officials acknowledged losing over a dozen drones of various types during attacks on Iranian ballistic missile launchers, stating this was an anticipated cost.
Hermes-900: A Valuable Asset
The Hermes-900 is among Israel’s most valuable drones, with an estimated cost exceeding $20 million per unit. The unmanned aerial vehicle can be equipped with anti-tank missiles and various observation systems.
Early Losses in the Conflict
Analysis by Defence-Blog, based on publicly available photos and footage, indicates that Iran downed eight Israeli unmanned aerial vehicles in the first week of the war, including at least three Hermes aircraft.
Broader Drone Losses Reported
DefenceSecurityAsia noted that American media also reported the destruction of several advanced MQ-9A Reaper drones during operations over Iran last week. This suggests that high attrition rates are not unique to Israel and may indicate the limited survivability of advanced unmanned aerial vehicles against modern, integrated air defense systems.
Ongoing Conflict and Iranian Air Defenses
Since February 28th, the United States and Israel have focused on destroying Iranian missile and drone launchers, attempting to avoid directly exposing manned aircraft to fire. However, analysis from DefenceSecurityAsia and Defence-Blog suggests that despite these strikes, Iranian air defenses remain operational and pose a threat.
Civilian and Military Casualties in Iran
According to detailed data published Monday by HRANA, 1407 civilians, including 214 children, have been killed in Iran to date. Most civilian casualties reportedly occurred during a missile strike on a primary school in Minab, southern Iran, in the early days of the conflict. HRANA also reported 1167 Iranian soldiers killed, with another 657 deaths yet to be classified as civilian or military.
Extensive Damage to Civilian Infrastructure
The Iranian Red Crescent reported that over 81,365 civilian buildings have been attacked and damaged since the start of the war, including 61,555 residential properties, 19,020 commercial properties, and 275 medical facilities, including hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies. The attacks have also damaged 498 schools.
Escalation of Hostilities
Israel and the USA began airstrikes on Iran on February 28th. Tehran responded with retaliatory attacks on Israel and several countries in the Persian Gulf region, targeting both American bases and civilian infrastructure.
