Israeli Hermes Drone Shot Down In Iran, Trump Ramps Up Threats To Tehran
Israel and Iran continue to trade blows as speculation mounts about whether the United States will increase its military support to Israel or even take part in kinetic operations. While Iranian air defenses have been severely depleted, they are still capable of bringing down Israeli aircraft, evidenced by the loss of an Israeli Air Force (IAF) Elbit Systems Hermes 900 over the Isfahan province in central Iran.
The IDF confirmed today that one of its drones was downed by a surface-to-air missile while operating over Iran. An IDF statement said the drone 'fell in Iran. No injuries were reported, and there is no risk of an information breach.'
Referring to the Hermes 900 drone loss in Ishfahan https://t.co/f1j1DFYxOA pic.twitter.com/yOrPigaZWm
— Doha (@Doha104p3) June 18, 2025
Footage of the crash site confirms the drone was a Hermes 900, known in IAF service as Kochav ('star').
Iran appears to have finally managed to down its first aircraft with the Israel Air Force, a 'Hermes 900' Long-Endurance Tactical Drone, which they claim to have downed last night over the Isfahan Province of Central Iran. Footage from Iranian state-run media appears to confirm… pic.twitter.com/rAgF7tHo6G
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) June 18, 2025
As evidenced by the U.S. experience of operating the MQ-9 Reaper against the Houthi militants in Yemen, medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) drones remain vulnerable to even relatively low-level air defense threats. Despite Israel declaring its control of the skies, road-mobile surface-to-air missile systems and even man-portable air defense systems remain a threat.
Regardless, it is likely that many of the strikes attributed to IAF fighters were actually carried out by MALE drones, including but not limited to the Hermes. As we have discussed in the past, MALE drones like the Hermes are certainly being actively used in the hunt for Iranian missiles.
Apparently located among the wreckage of the Hermes 900 was this miniature glide bomb, which looks to be a Mikholit. This Israeli-developed weapon is tailored for use by drones and is typically used to attack small ground targets, such as personnel or vehicles, aircraft sitting idle, and air defenses.
Small Israeli-made guided glide bomb Mikholit, designed for UAVs, also spotted on wreckage site of Hermes-900 drone.It is used for precision strikes on light targets such as exposed personnel or unarmored vehicles. https://t.co/MjXfbTA8kM pic.twitter.com/pHaXwp5ZiR
— Clash Report (@clashreport) June 18, 2025
You can catch up on the war between Israel and Iran in our previous coverage here.
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The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) say they launched a new wave of strikes on Tehran in the early hours of Wednesday morning, warning residents in parts of the city to urgently evacuate. 'Dear citizens, for your safety and well-being, we urgently request that you immediately evacuate the designated area in Tehran's Area 18. Your presence in this area puts your life at risk,' the IDF posted on social media.
A series of explosions were reported in eastern and western parts of Tehran early this morning, while residents continued to flee the capital. The exodus out of Tehran has ramped up, with roads out of the city blocked and queues outside gas stations.
At least one of the Israeli strikes appeared to target Tehran's eastern neighborhood of Hakimiyeh, where the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard has an academy.
There are reports that Israel has hit further targets associated with Iran's nuclear program.
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the U.N. nuclear watchdog, Israel struck the TESA Karaj workshop and the Tehran Research Center.
The IAEA posted on X:
'At the Tehran site, one building was hit where advanced centrifuge rotors were manufactured and tested. At Karaj, two buildings were destroyed where different centrifuge components were manufactured.'
The IAEA has information that two centrifuge production facilities in Iran, the TESA Karaj workshop and the Tehran Research Center, were hit. Both sites were previously under IAEA monitoring and verification as part of the JCPOA.
— IAEA – International Atomic Energy Agency
(@iaeaorg) June 18, 2025
The two facilities are understood to produce parts for centrifuges, used to enrich uranium.
Posting on X, the IDF said it had attacked 'a centrifuge production site and several weapons manufacturing sites' overnight.
The IDF wrote:
'Over 50 Air Force fighter jets, guided by precise intelligence from the Intelligence Directorate, completed a series of strikes on military targets in the Tehran area in recent hours.'
'During the wave of attacks, several weapons manufacturing sites were targeted. Among the weapons production facilities attacked was a site for producing raw materials and components for assembling surface-to-surface missiles that the Iranian regime has launched and continues to launch toward the State of Israel.'
The IDF also continues to remove Iranian airpower from the order of battle. After releasing footage showing the destruction of F-14 Tomcat fighters, the IAF has now provided a video showing the targeting of another Shah-era asset: AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army Aviation (IRIAA). The service was assessed to have only around a dozen AH-1s still active before the current conflict, and the footage suggests that at least five were destroyed, although they may also have been non-operational airframes.
This morning, the Israeli Air Force attacked the Iranian Army helicopter base at Kermanshah Airport. Israeli fighters appear to have destroyed at least 5 Iranian AH-1J Cobra/Toufan attack helicopters. pic.twitter.com/jGsNi1D939
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 18, 2025
The location of the strike on the IRIAA AH-1s appears to have been Shahid Ashrafi Esfahani Airport in Bakhtaran, Kermanshah Province, where fires can be seen in the following satellite image.
Imagery collected today shows the aftermath of Israel's strike on Kermanshah Airport in Iran targeting its helicopter base, multiple attack helicopters have reportedly been destroyed as evidenced by the ongoing fires visible on site pic.twitter.com/bcVys4nklU
— Damien Symon (@detresfa_) June 18, 2025
New satellite imagery has meanwhile emerged showing the extent of damage caused by previous Israeli strikes on the Iranian missile base at Tabriz. Here, it appears that the underground tunnel entrances were deliberately targeted, closing off access to the subterranean part of the base.
Before and after of Iran's Tabriz missile base.pic.twitter.com/OW5STxLv2w
— Clash Report (@clashreport) June 17, 2025
Reflecting the increasingly distant Iranian targets that the IAF is now hitting, this photo, released by the IDF, shows an F-15 Baz fighter in its longest-legged configuration. This combines three external fuel tanks with conformal fuel tanks (CFTs) scabbed onto the fuselage sides. CFTs have been an option for F-15-series jets since the 1970s, and Israel was a pioneer in their use, transforming fighters into long-range strike platforms, as you can read more about here.
Single seat Baz with 3 bags and conformals. The longest reaching config of the original Eagle. https://t.co/7G6Y6y3tfv
— Tyler Rogoway (@Aviation_Intel) June 18, 2025
For its part, Iran continues to strike back at Israel, although, as we reported yesterday, Israel's campaign against Iranian ballistic missiles and their launchers appears to be having an effect, with a significant drop-off in Iranian missiles launched over the last two days.
Among the Iranian missiles that have been launched, the Revolutionary Guard Corps claims that it has fired 'hypersonic missiles' as part of the latest round of overnight strikes.
IRGC:Our Fattah missiles broke through Israeli defenses and held complete domination over Israeli airspace.
— Clash Report (@clashreport) June 18, 2025
Iran unveiled what it described as a hypersonic missile back in 2023. However, missile experts have long been highly skeptical that the missile, named Fattah ('conqueror'), is a genuine hypersonic weapon.
It's also worth noting that most ballistic missiles achieve a speed greater than Mach 5, which is considered the threshold for a hypersonic weapon. However, true hypersonic weapons comprise hypersonic glide vehicles (HGVs) and hypersonic cruise missiles (HCMs), which are able to maneuver significantly during atmospheric flight as well as maintain hypersonic speeds over large portions of their flight trajectories. Instead, the Fattah likely employs endo-atmospheric and exo-atmospheric maneuverability to increase its survivability and accuracy.
So far, according to the latest IDF figures, Iran has launched over 400 ballistic missiles and some 1,000 drones at Israel since the start of the conflict on Friday. Of the ballistic missiles, the IDF claims just over 20 struck urban areas in Israel, killing 24 people and leaving more than 500 wounded. Of the 1,000 drones, fewer than 200 entered Israeli airspace, and all were either intercepted by the Israeli Air Force and Navy or fell short before reaching Israel.
Iran has launched over 400 ballistic missiles and some 1,000 drones at Israel since the start of the conflict on Friday, according to fresh data from the IDF.Of the ballistic missiles, just over 20 impacted urban areas in Israel, causing casualties and extensive damage. 24…
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) June 18, 2025
The Iranian leadership is pledging to continue to attack Israel, with the country's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, taking to X today to write: 'We must give a strong response to the terrorist Zionist regime. We will show the Zionists no mercy.'
In another post on the same platform, Khamenei made an apparent threat to Israel, with the words, 'The battle begins.'
'Ali returns to Khaybar,' the post added, in a reference to the first imam of Shia Islam and his conquest of the Jewish town of Khaybar in the 7th century.
به نام نامی #حیدر، نبرد آغاز میگرددعلی با ذوالفقار خود، به #خیبر باز میگردد#الله_اکبر pic.twitter.com/yGYrXUDGoK
— KHAMENEI.IR | فارسی
(@Khamenei_fa) June 17, 2025
Further hawkish words came from the ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations in Geneva, Ali Bahreini. He told reporters that Iran will respond to Israeli strikes 'strongly' and 'without restraint.'
'We will not show any reluctance in defending our people, security, and land,' he added.
Reflecting the kind of rhetoric now coming out of Tehran, Iranian state media posted the following video, showing a hand stroking a mock-up nuclear bomb accompanied by the caption 'Maybe.'
Iranian state media posts video with an image of a miniature nuclear warhead and the caption: "Maybe"pic.twitter.com/Ozn98uX8fx
— Clash Report (@clashreport) June 18, 2025
Khamenei's declaration of intent comes a day after U.S. President Donald Trump warned that the United States could easily assassinate the Iranian leader.
According to multiple reports, Trump is considering entering the conflict and joining Israel's strikes on Iran.
In particular, there's been speculation that the U.S. Air Force could use B-2 stealth bombers to assist Israel in its attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities. The deep-lying nuclear enrichment site at Fordow is one key target that could require Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bunker-buster bombs, which are only carried by the B-2. However, even the MOP would not necessarily guarantee the total destruction of hardened targets like this.
So far, however, the U.S. Air Force has apparently committed only to the new deployment of tactical fighters and refueling tankers to the Middle East. This is an important contingency measure and one that gives the president multiple options, as we outlined in our previous feature on the tanker movements. Today, flight-tracking software revealed more U.S. Air Force tankers heading south, including passing over Israel, as well as over Jordan, close to the Syrian border.
Two U.S.
KC-135R Stratotanker planes are flying over Israel
. pic.twitter.com/zGIpq8wvfK
— ILRedAlert (@ILRedAlert) June 18, 2025
Pair of tankers working just south of the Syrian border over Jordan.
KC-135R 58-0069 #AE04F6
KC-135R 63-7985 #AE036Apic.twitter.com/FPsI4YXKAD
— Evergreen Intel (@vcdgf555) June 18, 2025
Meanwhile, further tanker and transport assets are headed across the Atlantic, with at least seven KC-135s and three C-17s noted in the air today, bound for Europe.
MORE: Seven U.S. C-17 transport planes and three KC-135 tankers are en route to Europe. pic.twitter.com/C666xIKIbs
— Clash Report (@clashreport) June 18, 2025
The United States has also ordered a second carrier group, centered around the USS Nimitz, to the Middle East, as you can read about here.
In the meantime, Trump's patience with Tehran appears to be wearing thin.
'I'm not too much in the mood to negotiate with Iran,' Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, as he returned early from the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Canada. The U.S. president added that his objective in Iran was 'an end, a real end, not a ceasefire'.
Trump then posted to his Truth Social channel, calling for Iran's 'UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!' While warning that the United States knew the location of Iran's supreme leader, Trump added that they would not kill him 'for now.'
Similar sentiments were expressed by Israeli Minister of Defense Israel Katz, who said that Iran's supreme leader could face the same fate as Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, who was toppled in a U.S.-led invasion and was eventually hanged after a trial.
Trump's stance has already gotten pushback from some U.S. lawmakers.
Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine has introduced a war powers resolution that would prohibit the U.S. military from taking direct action against Iran without explicit authorization from Congress or a declaration of war.
When asked today whether the U.S. military would strike nuclear facilities in Iran, Trump said, 'I may do it. I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do.' Trump was also asked to provide a message to the Supreme Leader of Iran, to which he responded, 'I say good luck.'
When asked it the US would strike Iran's nuclear facilities, Trump said: 'I may do it. I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do"Trump also asked what his message is to the Supreme Leader of Iran and said: 'I say good luck.'
— Selina Wang (@selinawangtv) June 18, 2025
Trump today again called for Iran's unconditional surrender, saying, 'I've had it.'
WATCH: Trump: "I want unconditional surrender, I've had it." Damn… https://t.co/XEy35dKhlBpic.twitter.com/7e9iskXvS8
— Raylan Givens (@JewishWarrior13) June 18, 2025
In an indication of the gravity of the situation in the Middle East, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, today announced that the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem was urgently working on organizing evacuation flights and cruise ship departures for the several thousand American citizens currently trapped in Israel.
This is a developing story. Stay with The War Zone for updates.A gaggle of Iranian government airliners — including the A340 used for presidential travels — flew to Oman today, which is a very strange thing to happen considering Israeli claims of air superiority over Iran. You can read our post on the mysterious flights here.
Khamenei continues to make dark warnings to the U.S.:
The harm the US will suffer will definitely be irreparable if they enter this conflict militarily.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) June 18, 2025Check out the latest on the conflict in our new post here.
Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com
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