Israel Names Iranian Drone Commander

Israel names Iranian drone commander allegedly behind lethal ship attack

Lazar Berman

Defense Minister Benny Gantz and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid named on Wednesday the Iranian commanders they said were behind last week’s attack on an oil tanker off the coast of Oman.

“Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the IRGC’s Air Force, is behind dozens of terror attacks in the region employing UAVs and missiles,” Gantz told envoys from countries on the United Nations Security Council during a briefing at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem. “For the first time ever, I will also expose the man who is directly responsible for the launch of suicide UAVs — his name is Saeed Ara Jani and he is the head of the IRGC’s UAV command.”

“The UAV command conducted the attack on Mercer Street,” he said. Saeed Ara Jani plans and provides the training and equipment to conduct terror attacks in the region.”

The Wednesday briefing was part of Israel’s efforts to marshal international efforts to counter Iranian moves across the region, the Foreign Ministry said.

Lapid and Gantz emphasized to their guests that Israel will act on its own to protect itself if it must, but that Iranian attacks should be treated as aggression toward the international community as well.

“What is the international community going to do about it?” he asked. “Is there still such a thing as international law? And does the world have the ability and willpower to enforce the law?”

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