The Wall Street Journal reported this week that Iran, over the past six months, has supplied Russia with some “300,000 artillery shells and a million rounds of ammunition.” Russian cargo ships are taking these materials by way of the Caspian Sea and Russia is using them for its war against Ukraine. Folks, that’s a pretty massive military supply from Iran to Russia, over just a six-month span.
Of course, it comes on the heels of persistent reports that Russia has received hundreds, if not 1000s, of these suicide drones from Iran. They’re mass-produced inside Iran, packed with explosives, and are flown into the target.
Russia has used these with great and deadly effect in Ukraine, in places like Kyiv, attacking civilians with these Iranian-made drones to the point where Iran plans to open a drone factory in Russia, east of Moscow, very soon, where they will mass produce. No surprise there. Iran views itself as a drone superpower, using them not only for their own ends, but to attack—by the way—US bases in Syria and Iraq.
Iran is also supplying these drones to the likes of Hezbollah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the Houthis in Yemen, and those Shia militias in Iraq and Syria. Iranian proxies, one-and-all, are armed to the teeth by their masters in Tehran, so it makes perfect sense that Iran would also supply these drones to its good friends in Vladimir Putin’s regime.
The big question is: What does Iran get in return?
There have been reports that Russia may look to replenish its stockpiles with some ballistic missiles from Iran—Russia has also reached out to North Korea on that end.
But Iran is giving a lot here, folks, 1000s of drones, a drone factory on Russian soil, a million rounds of ammunition 300,000 artillery shells in the past half year alone. This begs the question, is this a quid pro quo relationship? The Iranian regime is not doing this out of the goodness of their hearts; what do they get in return?
Now, a few things here, Russia is reportedly supplying more up-to-date fighter jets to Iran; the Iranian Air Force is severely outdated. Additionally, Russia could look to provide Iran with nuclear know-how.
The alliance has become so close, and Russia is now, to an extent, reliant on Iran, not only for weaponry, but for support in the diplomatic arena as well, just as Russia is cleaving closer to China on that end, too.
So yes, Russia could return the favor by supplying Iran with military hardware— and it’s done so already—but the bigger option for Russia, which Iran has been requesting now for the past several years, is that Russia create a no-fly-zone in Syria.
Why is that important? Over the past several years, Israel has carried out hundreds, if not more, airstrikes against Iran, Hezbollah, and their various jihadist allies in Syria, at Israel’s doorstep.
Russia, which has 1000s of troops in Syria, is closely aligned with Iran and Hezbollah. Nonetheless, Russian forces have stood back and allowed Israel to carry out these airstrikes. Could a day be coming when Russia says, “no more, we are creating a no-fly-zone and Israel, we will no longer let you operate in Syria against our close allies”?
Folks, for Israel, that’s a non-starter. This is an existential threat in the form of Iran and Hezbollah at Israel’s Northeastern border in Syria. Iran is attempting to transmit precision-guided missiles into the hands of Hezbollah, which would be used to strike Israel in a very deadly fashion. Again, this is a red line for Israel. They’re not going to allow it. That’s why freedom of movement in Syria is crucial for Israel.
If Russia suddenly says, “the game’s over; we’re not going to allow it anymore,” What happens then is a very precarious position for Israel—that’s one reason Israel has sought to not anger Russia when it comes to Ukraine.
This is a very complex position for Israel right now, folks. I believe this is leading to what I’ve called the great betrayal, where Russia eventually will turn very nastily against Israel, and lead up that Ezekiel invasion force laid out in the book of Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39. The war of Gog and Magog. Funny name, I know, but you should know it very well!
Russia will, I believe, align with Iran, Turkey, and others against Israel. The good news is that they don’t get very far. They meet their demise on the mountains of Israel when the God of Israel, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of the Bible, intervenes in a very powerful way.
I’ll leave it at that because I want you to go and actually read Ezekiel 38 and 39. Folks, the prophetic chess pieces are moving on the board, no doubt.
