According to a report by The Telegraph, Iran has been rapidly expanding a top-secret drone factory near Qom, where they are training Hezbollah fighters to carry out drone attacks on northern Israel. Leaked classified documents from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) show the facility has tripled in size since its establishment in 2006, despite facing US sanctions.
The drone HQ, owned by Qods Aviation Industry Company (blacklisted by the US since 2013), has significantly expanded its runway from 500 meters in 2007 to 1,500 meters in 2020, allowing for the operation of larger, longer-range drones like those used in the recent attack on Israel.
Intelligence gathered by the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) reveals the Gangine center trains leaders of regional terror groups, most notably Hezbollah. It serves as a training ground for both drone testing and pilot training, with reports suggesting militants are trained in small groups.
This expansion coincides with the recent escalation of conflict in the region. Since the outbreak of the Gaza war, Hezbollah has launched a major offensive on Israel, firing over 3,500 projectiles and displacing over 100,000 Israelis.
Experts believe Iran’s drone program, supplying weapons to Hezbollah and the Houthis, allows them to test their technology in real-world scenarios and exert influence over regional actors. This expansion is seen as a worrying sign, particularly considering Iran’s recent barrage of missiles and drones towards Israel, which they view as a “test run” for future attacks.
Hossein Abedini, deputy director of the National Council of Resistance of Iran’s UK office, attributes this warmongering to internal unrest within Iran and a perceived lack of international consequences for their actions. He emphasizes the need to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization to promote peace and stability in the region.
This report by The Telegraph sheds light on Iran’s growing drone capabilities and their collaboration with Hezbollah, raising concerns about the potential for further conflict and the need for stricter international responses.
