Iran¡¯s attacks over the first day of combat have leaned heavily on drones and small-scale missile strikes, trends that could indicate either deliberate planning ¡ª or a breakdown in command and control.
Rather than sustained volleys, attacks have been intermittent, with waves of small, Shahed-136 one-way attack drones ¡ª essentially unsophisticated cruise missiles ¡ª punctuated by smaller strikes with ballistic weapons.
That pattern could indicate that early U.S. and Israeli strikes to kill Iranian leaders have left battlefield commanders to operate on their own. But in the Ukraine war, both sides have used cheap weapons to deplete or distract enemy air defenses, before launching more serious strikes ¡ª a tactic that Iran may also be applying.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.