Tehran Says Israel Copied Iranian Drone to Carry Out Attacks

Tehran — A senior official from Iran’s powerful military organization, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has accused Israel of producing an exact replica of an Iranian combat drone and using it in attacks across the region in an attempt to shift blame onto Iran

Tehran Says Israel Copied Iranian Drone to Carry Out Attacks

The allegation was made by Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson and commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, one of Iran’s key military command centers responsible for coordinating major defense operations. Speaking to Iranian media, Zolfaghari claimed that Israel had developed what he described as a “carbon copy” of Iran’s well-known Shahed-136 drone.

According to Zolfaghari, the alleged replica drone has been given the name “Lucas” and has reportedly been used in attacks targeting several countries in the Gulf region. He suggested that the purpose of such a move would be to disguise the origin of the strikes and falsely attribute them to Iran.

# Allegations of a “Disinformation Strategy”

Zolfaghari further accused Israel of resorting to what he called a strategy of “deception and misinformation” after failing to achieve its objectives through conventional military means. He argued that by deploying drones designed to resemble Iranian systems, Israel could create confusion about the true source of regional attacks.

“The goal is to hide the real perpetrator and portray Iran as responsible for operations it did not carry out,” he said, according to Iranian state-linked reports.

However, the claims have not been independently verified, and Israeli officials have not publicly responded to the accusations.

# What Is the Shahed-136 Drone?

The Shahed-136 has become one of the most widely discussed attack drones in recent years. It is often described as a loitering munition” or kamikaze drone, a type of unmanned aerial vehicle designed to fly toward a target and detonate upon impact.

The drone features a distinctive triangular or delta-wing design and is believed to have a relatively low radar signature compared with larger aircraft. Military analysts say such drones are frequently launched in large numbers at once — a tactic intended to overwhelm air-defense systems.

This strategy, sometimes referred to as “swarming,” can make it difficult for defensive systems to intercept every incoming drone, especially when multiple targets are approached simultaneously.

# Range and Technical Capabilities

According to several defense assessments, the Shahed-136 is estimated to have a range of up to about 2,000 kilometers, allowing it to strike targets far beyond the territory from which it is launched.

Powered by a small engine, the drone produces a distinctive buzzing sound during flight — a characteristic that has often been noted in areas where it has been deployed.

Analysts say the drone can be guided either by satellite navigation systems or by pre-programmed coordinates, enabling it to travel long distances before striking its intended target with relatively high accuracy.

Because the drone is comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, experts say such systems have become increasingly important in modern warfare, where lower-cost unmanned platforms can be used to threaten high-value targets.

# Growing Role of Drones in Regional Conflict

Unmanned aerial systems like the Shahed-136 have become a prominent feature of conflicts across the Middle East and beyond, reflecting a broader shift toward drone-based warfare.

Military strategists note that relatively low-cost drones can be produced in large numbers and used for surveillance, precision strikes, or disruptive attacks against infrastructure.

The accusations made by Iranian officials come amid ongoing tensions between Iran and Israel, rivals that have frequently accused each other of conducting covert or proxy operations across the region.

For now, the claims about the alleged “Lucas” drone remain unconfirmed, and without an official response from Israel, the situation highlights the continuing information battle that often accompanies modern geopolitical conflicts.