11 March 2026
Scott Peterson/Getty Images
Russia is helping Iran with advanced drone tactics from its war in Ukraine to hit US and Gulf nation targets in the Middle East, according to a Western intelligence official.
Shahed drones, designed by Iran but mass produced by Moscow for use in Ukraine, have been unexpectedly successful in penetrating the air defenses of Gulf nations. Russian intelligence sharing with Iran has until now been reported as general assistance with targeting, but specific tactical advice is a new level of support.
“What was more general support is now getting more concerning, including UAS [drone] targeting strategies that Russia employed in Ukraine,” said the official, who did not want to be identified discussing sensitive intelligence. While the official declined to specify the exact tactical help, Russia has used Shahed drones against Ukraine in waves, with multiple drones flying together and changing course regularly to elude air defenses. CNN has approached the Kremlin for comment.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said on X Wednesday that “Russia has started supporting the Iranian regime with drones. It will definitely help with missiles, and it is also helping them with air defense.” Kyiv has sent drone interception experts to the Gulf region, to share Ukrainian expertise in stopping the relatively cheap Shaheds, which can cost $30,000. Ukraine has developed tiny interceptors which cost about $5,000 each and can be produced rapidly.
Turning to the wider threat in the Gulf, the official said they were “really concerned” by Iran’s use of mines in the Strait of Hormuz as well as sea-drone and low-tech attacks using Dhow fishing boats on US carrier strike groups. Iran claimed to have hit the USS Abraham Lincoln at the start of the war, but the US denied this. “The Lincoln was not hit,” CENTCOM said on X at the time. “The missiles launched didn’t even come close.”
The Western official said that China’s support for Iran was “concerning,” but declined to provide details.
Remember, the president of the United States, DJ Trump, does not care if russia is helping our enemy to target and kill Americans and our assets.
Taco is not only a child rapist and a felon, but he is also a traitor. In other times of history, he would already be hanging.
The kompromat that Vlad the Vampire has on DJ Trump must be stupendous. It must be something so deeply depraved that it would even shake the maga maggot low-lifes.