- March 8, 2026
- 2:38 pm
- Middle East
The new phase of the conflict in the Middle East is gradually shifting towards the struggle for control over detection and air defense systems. According to The Wall Street Journal on March 8, 2026, Iran has begun systematically attacking radar stations, which serve as key elements of the early warning system for the US and their allies in the region.
These are radars that effectively perform the function of the ‘eyes’ of missile defense. They allow the detection of missile launches, drones, and other threats long before they reach their targets. When such systems are disabled, the ability to track threats drops sharply.
The latest strikes have shown: Tehran is focusing on this type of target.
Strikes on radars: Iran’s new tactic
According to WSJ, several radar systems in the Persian Gulf countries have been hit in recent days. Targets in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia were struck.
This geography shows that the attacks are not aimed at one country but at the entire architecture of regional air defense.
In most cases, Iranian-made strike drones are used — primarily ‘Shahed’ type drones. These devices are already well known in Ukraine and the Middle East due to their relative cheapness and ability to overcome complex air defense systems.
According to Western analysts, drones are becoming the central tool of Iran’s retaliatory actions. They are used for attacks on oil infrastructure, military bases, and strategic facilities in the Persian Gulf countries.
Why drones have become the main weapon of this war
Interestingly, the intensity of missile strikes from Iran has decreased in recent days. However, drone attacks continue at almost the same level, indicating a shift in priorities in warfare tactics.
The main reason is the economics of armaments.
Missile production requires much more resources and time, whereas drones can be produced en masse. Experts estimate that Iran is capable of producing thousands of such devices, providing constant pressure on the region’s defense systems.
Moreover, Western sources believe that Russia is providing Tehran with intelligence data that can be used to select targets for strikes. This allows attackers to plan operations more accurately and strike key elements of the defense infrastructure.
In the middle of the situation analysis, NAnews — Israel News | Nikk.Agency notes that cheap drones have become one of the main technological breakthroughs of modern warfare. Moscow had already focused on the mass use of such systems against Ukrainian energy infrastructure back in 2022.
Now this experience is effectively being scaled to the Middle East.
Ukraine becomes a key player in the fight against ‘Shaheds’
Amid ongoing attacks, Western countries have begun seeking new ways to counter Iranian drones. One option has been cooperation with the Ukrainian defense industry.
Recently, Reuters reported that the US and Qatar are negotiating the purchase of Ukrainian interceptor drones designed to destroy ‘Shaheds’.
These systems were developed and tested in real war conditions. Over the years of conflict, Ukrainian engineers have created effective solutions that allow the destruction of enemy drones significantly cheaper than traditional air defense systems.
According to sources, Ukraine is capable of producing up to 50,000 such drones per month. Approximately 5,000–10,000 units can potentially be exported.
Experts note that this solution seems like a logical step for Middle Eastern countries facing the same threat as Ukraine.
However, many analysts believe that such contracts could have been concluded much earlier. The sooner countries in the region begin to implement new systems to combat drones, the fewer opportunities Iran will have to conduct operations to ‘blind’ air defense.