On Tuesday evening, Iran launched at least 180 missiles at Israel as part of ‘Operation True Promise II,’ escalating tensions in the Middle East. Israeli officials confirmed there were no casualties, noting that while most missiles were intercepted by their defense systems, some did get through. They stated that Iran would face consequences for the attack.
This significant offensive, marking Iran’s second direct assault on Israel since April, targeted crucial military sites, including the Mossad headquarters in Tel Aviv and the Nevatim airbase near Beersheba.
The missile barrage followed Israel’s announcement that ground troops had entered Lebanon for a limited operation to eliminate Hezbollah fighters and infrastructure.
Iranian state media reported that various types of ballistic missiles were used in the assault, including the Emad and Ghadr missiles, along with the newly developed Fattah missile, as reported by Reuters.
Missiles used by Iran to overwhelm Israel’s Iron Dome
The Emad and Ghadr are medium-range ballistic missiles, while Iran’s Fattah-2 missile, known as the “Conqueror” in Farsi, is a significant asset. Iranian officials claimed last year that the Fattah could travel up to 15 times the speed of sound and has a range of about 1,400 kilometers (870 miles).
Tuesday’s attack was the first instance of the Fattah missile being utilized by the Revolutionary Guard against a nation as a form of retaliation.
The Ghadr and Emad missiles were launched to target Israel’s Iron Dome system, while the Fattah-2 missile specifically aimed at the Arrow defense system, which is designed to intercept long-range ballistic missiles.
The Emad missile, an enhanced version of the Ghadr, features a maneuverable warhead capable of making in-flight adjustments, providing it with improved accuracy compared to its predecessor.
In contrast, the Fattah missile series is equipped with a gliding warhead and can change its trajectory, making it more challenging to intercept. Additionally, it can accelerate outside the Earth’s atmosphere and features a movable nozzle for directional control, positioning it as one of the most precise missiles in Iran’s arsenal.
