World

Arab countries are paying a steep price for Iran’s attacks—literally. The missiles used to shoot down low-cost Shahed drones cost hundreds of thousands, and sometimes even millions, of dollars. Ukrainian drone operators and interceptor drones can do the same job more cheaply and efficiently.

Shahed attack drones are now spreading across the Gulf. With new capabilities like deploying FPVs midair, transmitting flight data via mobile networks, and resisting jamming, they are enabling asymmetric warfare by replacing expensive missiles. As Iran unleashes its drone arsenal in the Middle East and even Europe, the attacks mirror tactics Russia has used against Ukraine.

What happens when $5 million missiles are used to shoot down $20,000 drones? Facing daily waves of low-cost Shahed drones, Ukraine was forced to rethink how air defense works. As drone warfare spreads from Eastern Europe to the Middle East, its hard-earned lessons are becoming globally relevant.

Exclusive documentation shows—Russia is still acquiring vast quantities of aviation equipment from Western suppliers via intermediaries we can identify.

For years, analysts spoke of “Fortress Russia”—an economy insulated by vast reserves and conservative fiscal policy. Then, what began as a full-scale military invasion of Ukraine has evolved into a full-scale degradation of Russia’s economic system.

Surging Russian naval aggression across the North Atlantic has triggered the UK’s largest maritime mobilization in decades, protecting key infrastructure and allied sea lanes.