Latest news with #HajQassem
Time of India
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Chernobyl-like nuclear warnings, Fattah missile strikes, and an ‘Islamic Bomb' have left the Middle East on edge
In the first week of open war, Israeli air and missile strikes have inflicted heavy damage on Iran 's nuclear infrastructure and reportedly wiped out several senior military commanders. The strikes targeted key sites including Natanz and Isfahan . Although Israel initially said it had bombed Bushehr, it later retracted the claim. Iran has responded with a massive barrage of 370 ballistic missiles and hundreds of drones. According to the Israeli government, these have killed 24 civilians and injured nearly 600 people. Among the targets hit was the Soroka Medical Centre in Beersheba . Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, visiting another damaged site in Bat Yam, said, "Iran will pay a very heavy price for the premeditated murder of civilians, women and children." Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed that the military has been ordered to "intensify strikes on strategic-related targets in Tehran" to dismantle what he called the "Ayatollah regime". Netanyahu added that these attacks might result in the toppling of Iran's leadership. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Тези обувки са толкова удобни, че няма да искате да ги събуете. ZAROTRAVEL® КУПИ СЕГА Undo Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, however, clarified that "regime change" was not currently the cabinet's official goal. Iran deploys new missile arsenal in retaliation Iran's response has included the deployment of multiple missile systems, including the Emad, Qadr-110, Haj Qassem, and the Fattah-1 and Fattah-2 hypersonic-capable missiles. The Iranian Embassy in India said, "The twelfth wave of Operation 'True Promise 3' has begun with the launch of ultra-heavy, long-range, two-stage Sejjil missiles." Live Events "Sejjil missiles, powered by solid fuel and with long-range capabilities, are among Iran's most accurate and powerful strategic weapons. They possess the ability to penetrate and destroy critical enemy targets," it added in a post on X. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) first unveiled the Fattah-1 in 2023. It has a range of 1,400 km and is designed to travel both inside and beyond Earth's atmosphere. Iranian media have called it their first true hypersonic missile. But not everyone agrees. Yehoshua Kalisky , senior researcher at the Israeli think tank INSS, stated, "Israel is able to intercept more than 95% of the missiles because speed is not crucial. What is important is the manoeuvrability of the incoming missiles, and so far the manoeuvrability of these missiles is limited." Also Read: Camera lens behind Israel–Iran conflict: How Iran's missiles are finding their mark Nuclear rhetoric and the revival of an old threat What has truly alarmed global security analysts is the nuclear rhetoric coming from Tehran. Major General Mohsen Rezaei of the IRGC said on state television, "Pakistan has told us that if Israel uses nuclear missiles, we will also attack it with nuclear weapons." He claimed that Pakistan had promised to "stand behind Iran" and urged Muslim unity against Israel. "We may reach a point where we take major actions that will destabilise the entire region," he warned. Reza Sayyad, spokesperson for the Iranian armed forces, added: "Warnings for you in the coming days: Leave the occupied territories, because, certainly, they won't be inhabitable in the future! Taking shelter underground will not bring safety to the Israelis." Pakistan's Defence Minister Khwaja Asif echoed those sentiments in parliament, calling on all Muslim nations to unite. "Israel has targeted Iran, Yemen, and Palestine. If Muslim nations don't unite now, each will face the same fate," he said. The concept of an "Islamic Bomb" is decades old. Pakistani leaders Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Zia ul-Haq floated the idea in the 1970s. In 1979, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin even warned British PM Margaret Thatcher about this potential threat. And in 2003, nuclear components were seized en route to Libya from Pakistan. AQ Khan, father of Pakistan's nuclear programme, later confessed to proliferating nuclear technology to both Libya and Iran. Also Read: Israel-Iran War: Can Trump bomb Iran without asking? Capitol Hill says no, invokes War Powers Act Could Israel use nuclear weapons? The question of whether Israel will respond with nuclear weapons now looms over the conflict. According to SIPRI , Israel possesses around 90 nuclear warheads. Netanyahu has long opposed nuclear agreements with Iran, insisting Tehran can't be trusted. Now, amid Iranian missile strikes, speculation grows that Israel could use the nuclear option. Defence analyst and Indian Air Force veteran Vijainder K Thakur wrote on X: "Both Trump and Netanyahu are clear that if Iran doesn't back down, they will use nuclear weapons." Some analysts suggest that Israel may be letting some missiles through its Iron Dome to justify extreme retaliation. But such a move would need American approval — and that seems unlikely. It would also mean formally acknowledging Israel's nuclear status and could deepen its diplomatic isolation. Also Read: Inside Israel's midnight blitz which took aim at Iran's nuclear arsenal: 60 jets, 100 bombs, and a nuclear target in flames United States keeps its cards close US President Donald Trump, a key ally of Netanyahu, has oscillated between diplomacy and threats. "Nobody knows what I'll do," he said recently. He also speculated online about killing Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, before demanding Tehran's "unconditional surrender." Meanwhile, fears of wider conflict continue to grow. Russia has warned that any Israeli attack on Iran's Bushehr nuclear plant could cause a "Chornobyl-style catastrophe" in the Gulf. Also Read: Is it a dragon? Iran's mysterious hypersonic Fattah missile, flying at 15 times the speed of sound, goes viral The Hypersonic hype: Real or just speed? Iran insists it has used hypersonic missiles against Israel, but global experts remain unconvinced. Hypersonic weapons travel at speeds above Mach 5, but speed alone isn't enough. "This is a hugely complicated task. The Iranians don't have the capacity to manufacture them," said Jack Watling of the Royal United Services Institute . "Radar can see a missile on a ballistic curve because it's above the radar horizon. If it's a hypersonic glide vehicle, it can fly lower and hills get in the way," he explained. Iran has claimed to use the Fattah-1. Still, Kalisky says, "The Fattah 1 has had minimal success. Iran has two fast and manoeuvrable missiles — Khorramshahr and Fattah 2 — that would be more difficult to intercept. But neither have been deployed." The Israel-Iran conflict comes at a time when fears of nuclear proliferation are already on the rise. Russia, North Korea, and even Pakistan are believed to be expanding or modernising their nuclear capabilities. A 2022 SIPRI report warned that the world is entering a new nuclear arms race. This war may just be the spark that turns a regional conflict into a global crisis. With advanced weapons, shifting alliances, and nuclear threats flying across the airwaves, the stakes have never been higher.
Economic Times
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
Israel's Iron Dome is leaking on purpose as Iran's ballistic missile count passes 400
Reuters Smoke rises at an impacted facility site following missile attack from Iran on Israel, at Haifa Israel June 15, 2025. REUTERS/Rami Shlush ISRAEL OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN ISRAEL Iran has launched over 400 ballistic missiles and hundreds of drones at Israel since fighting escalated last week, Israeli military officials confirmed. The wave of attacks follows Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and senior military personnel under Operation Rising Lion. While many of the missiles were intercepted, several breached Israel's defences, hitting targets in Tel Aviv and other responded with overnight strikes on Iranian infrastructure linked to nuclear and missile programmes. Iranian state media claim that the 'Haj Qassem' missile was used to hit central Tel Aviv, killing 10 people and injuring nearly 200. The missile, named after the late General Qassem Soleimani, is designed to evade both the Iron Dome and US-made THAAD systems, according to Iran's Tasnim News Islamic Republic also fired a large number of Shahab-series and other long-range missiles in response to Israeli strikes. Some hit targets on the ground, causing visible damage in Bat Yam, Rishon LeZion, and near the Kirya military complex in Tel officials acknowledged that while a high percentage of missiles were intercepted, 'no system in the world can claim 100% interception'. The IDF estimated a 5–10% leakage rate. Also Read: Iran is no pushover: Israel is learning the hard wayIran's exact inventory remains classified, but its missile programme is considered one of the most advanced in the region. Over the past three decades, it has developed dozens of ballistic and cruise missile missiles are launched using powerful rocket engines, exiting the Earth's atmosphere before re-entering it at steep angles. Their range varies: Short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) – less than 1,000km Medium-range (MRBM) – 1,000–3,500km Long-range (LRBM) – 3,500–5,500km Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) – over 5,500km The distance between Iran and Israel ranges from 1,300km to 1,500km. A missile travelling at Mach 5—five times the speed of sound—can cover that distance in around 12 missiles are fast and follow high trajectories. When they re-enter the atmosphere, they descend rapidly—often at hypersonic speeds (above Mach 5)—leaving air defences with only seconds to respond. Some missiles release decoys or employ manoeuvrable re-entry vehicles (MaRV) to avoid missiles and drones are also in use. These fly slower but lower, making them harder to detect. Unlike ballistic missiles, cruise missiles can manoeuvre mid-flight and follow terrain contours to evade radar. Iranian drones and cruise missiles, though slower, complicate the threat landscape. A drone may take up to nine hours to reach Israeli airspace, and cruise missiles nearly two, but their unpredictability adds strain to defensive systems. Israel uses multiple systems to handle the varied threats: Iron Dome: Targets short-range rockets and artillery. David's Sling: Designed to intercept medium-range cruise and ballistic missiles between 40km and 300km. Arrow-2 and Arrow-3: Built to intercept long-range ballistic missiles up to 2,400km, even in space. Footage online suggests multiple Iranian projectiles breached these defences, causing fires and destruction in residential areas. Some unverified videos show direct impacts near Nevatim Air Base and the IDF's central command in Tel viral clip appears to show a missile slipping past the Iron Dome and striking near the Kirya. A separate video circulated by Iranian media claimed Israeli air defences accidentally struck each other—a claim Israeli officials United States has deployed THAAD and Patriot missile systems in the region and is assisting Israel in defence operations, a U.S. defence official confirmed. American naval assets have also engaged incoming even advanced systems like THAAD have shown limitations. In past conflicts, they failed to intercept some Houthi-fired missiles over Saudi Arabia and the Defence Minister Yoav Gallant warned that Iran had 'crossed every red line,' while Defence Minister Israel Katz said, 'The Iranian people will pay a big price.'Israel's military acknowledges its defences are not airtight. 'Iran's missiles are not something we don't know how to intercept,' a senior IDF official the volume, variety, and velocity of Iran's attack are testing the limits of Israel's systems. While most missiles are intercepted, those that slip through have caused significant casualties, damage, and Israeli air force has responded with renewed strikes on missile factories and storage sites in western Iran, as both countries prepare for what could be an even larger phase of casualties climbing—over 250 in Iran, 24 in Israel—and defences stretched, the question now is not just how well systems can intercept, but how long this tit-for-tat can continue before the conflict escalates beyond control.
Time of India
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Israel's Iron Dome is leaking on purpose as Iran's ballistic missile count passes 400
Iran has launched over 400 ballistic missiles and hundreds of drones at Israel since fighting escalated last week, Israeli military officials confirmed. The wave of attacks follows Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and senior military personnel under Operation Rising Lion . While many of the missiles were intercepted, several breached Israel's defences, hitting targets in Tel Aviv and other cities. Israel responded with overnight strikes on Iranian infrastructure linked to nuclear and missile programmes. Missiles breach defences in Tel Aviv Iranian state media claim that the 'Haj Qassem' missile was used to hit central Tel Aviv, killing 10 people and injuring nearly 200. The missile, named after the late General Qassem Soleimani, is designed to evade both the Iron Dome and US-made THAAD systems, according to Iran's Tasnim News Agency. The Islamic Republic also fired a large number of Shahab-series and other long-range missiles in response to Israeli strikes. Some hit targets on the ground, causing visible damage in Bat Yam, Rishon LeZion, and near the Kirya military complex in Tel Aviv. Israeli officials acknowledged that while a high percentage of missiles were intercepted, 'no system in the world can claim 100% interception'. The IDF estimated a 5–10% leakage rate. Live Events Also Read: Iran is no pushover: Israel is learning the hard way Iran's ballistic missile arsenal Iran's exact inventory remains classified, but its missile programme is considered one of the most advanced in the region. Over the past three decades, it has developed dozens of ballistic and cruise missile systems. Ballistic missiles are launched using powerful rocket engines, exiting the Earth's atmosphere before re-entering it at steep angles. Their range varies: Short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) – less than 1,000km Medium-range (MRBM) – 1,000–3,500km Long-range (LRBM) – 3,500–5,500km Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) – over 5,500km The distance between Iran and Israel ranges from 1,300km to 1,500km. A missile travelling at Mach 5—five times the speed of sound—can cover that distance in around 12 minutes. Why they are hard to stop Ballistic missiles are fast and follow high trajectories. When they re-enter the atmosphere, they descend rapidly—often at hypersonic speeds (above Mach 5)—leaving air defences with only seconds to respond. Some missiles release decoys or employ manoeuvrable re-entry vehicles (MaRV) to avoid interception. Cruise missiles and drones are also in use. These fly slower but lower, making them harder to detect. Unlike ballistic missiles, cruise missiles can manoeuvre mid-flight and follow terrain contours to evade radar. Iranian drones and cruise missiles, though slower, complicate the threat landscape. A drone may take up to nine hours to reach Israeli airspace, and cruise missiles nearly two, but their unpredictability adds strain to defensive systems. Israel's layered defence systems Israel uses multiple systems to handle the varied threats: Iron Dome: Targets short-range rockets and artillery. David's Sling: Designed to intercept medium-range cruise and ballistic missiles between 40km and 300km. Arrow-2 and Arrow-3: Built to intercept long-range ballistic missiles up to 2,400km, even in space. Footage online suggests multiple Iranian projectiles breached these defences, causing fires and destruction in residential areas. Some unverified videos show direct impacts near Nevatim Air Base and the IDF's central command in Tel Aviv. One viral clip appears to show a missile slipping past the Iron Dome and striking near the Kirya. A separate video circulated by Iranian media claimed Israeli air defences accidentally struck each other—a claim Israeli officials denied. US involvement and strategic stakes The United States has deployed THAAD and Patriot missile systems in the region and is assisting Israel in defence operations, a U.S. defence official confirmed. American naval assets have also engaged incoming threats. However, even advanced systems like THAAD have shown limitations. In past conflicts, they failed to intercept some Houthi-fired missiles over Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant warned that Iran had 'crossed every red line,' while Defence Minister Israel Katz said, 'The Iranian people will pay a big price.' Israel's military acknowledges its defences are not airtight. 'Iran's missiles are not something we don't know how to intercept,' a senior IDF official said. Still, the volume, variety, and velocity of Iran's attack are testing the limits of Israel's systems. While most missiles are intercepted, those that slip through have caused significant casualties, damage, and fear. The Israeli air force has responded with renewed strikes on missile factories and storage sites in western Iran, as both countries prepare for what could be an even larger phase of confrontation. With casualties climbing—over 250 in Iran, 24 in Israel—and defences stretched, the question now is not just how well systems can intercept, but how long this tit-for-tat can continue before the conflict escalates beyond control.
Mint
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Haj Qassem: Named after General Soleimani, killed on Trump's orders, this ballistic missile can evade Iron Dome
As tensions with Israel enter Day 5 with multiple reports of missile and drone attacks, Iran has claimed to have used the 'Haj Qassem' missile on Israel, killing at least 10 and wounding nearly 200. Named after former General Qassem Soleimani who was assassinated in 2020 US strikes on orders of Donald Trump, the 'Haj Qassem' missile is designed to dodge Israel's Iron Dome air defense system, according to the reports. The 'Haj Qassem' ballistic missile can also evade United States military's Terminal High Altitude Defence (THAAD). Former commander of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds forces Qassem Soleimani was killed in US strikes in 2020 on the orders of Donald Trump who the 45th President back then, triggering a wave of regional tensions and emotions as millions came out to attend his funeral and to protest against Soleimani's assassination. Qassem Soleimani, viewed as a key adversary by the US, played a central role in the defeat of the Islamic State in both Iraq and Syria. Iranian Fars news agency earlier claimed that Israel was hit by Haj Qassem guided ballistic missile which was loaded with maneuverable warhead. Dismissing the claims, an Israeli military official told The Times of Israel that Iran's missiles are 'not something we don't know how to intercept.' Iran's Tansim news agency reported in early May that the new ballistic missile was equipped with an 'advanced navigation system that allows it to hit targets precisely and counter electronic warfare.' The Iranian regime has also reportedly claimed that it can evade Israel's Iron Dome air defense system. The 'Iron Dome' is ground-to-air short-range air defence system which intercepts incoming missiles, rockets and even Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and destroys them mid-air. The system, which has been standing guard since 2011, has been deployed across Israel for times like these. The defence system has a range of 70 kilometres. Iran's missile has a range of 1,200-1,400 kilometers, as per ISNA. According to the reports, the Haj Qassem missile has a maneuverable reentry vehicle (MaRV) and advanced guidance systems that use optical, infrared, and inertial navigation. Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh had earlier said that the ballistic missile one of the abilities of the system is that it can identify a specific target among many. It can also intercept and destroy short, medium, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles. Israel has refuted the reports that Iran used maneuverable missiles at Tel Aviv. Meanwhile, Israel says its sweeping assault on Iran's top military leaders, nuclear scientists, uranium enrichment sites and ballistic missile program is necessary to prevent its longtime adversary from getting any closer to building an atomic weapon. The strikes have killed at least 250 people since Friday. Iran has retaliated by launching more than 370 missiles and hundreds of drones at Israel. So far, 24 people have been killed in Israel and more than 500 wounded.
Arabian Post
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Arabian Post
Escalation Intensifies as Iran Deploys ‘Haj Qassem' Missile, Drone Salvo
Iran launched a coordinated attack using ballistic missiles and combat drones against Israel, marking a significant intensification of hostilities and signalling a tactical shift in its military posture. A new guided ballistic missile—named 'Haj Qassem' after the late Major‑General Qasem Soleimani—was deployed alongside swarms of drones, striking central Israel including Tel Aviv and Haifa. Iranian state media described the operation as a hybrid assault, showcasing advanced navigation capabilities designed to penetrate Israel's missile-defence systems. Israel reports at least 14 fatalities and dozens injured in these strikes. The missile barrage coincides with what appears to be synchronized drone strikes. Iranian state outlets framed it as 'Operation Honest Promise 3', consistent with Iran's pattern of assigning names to military campaigns. Analysts suggest that combining missiles with UAVs adds a disruptive layer intended to overwhelm defensive systems such as Iron Dome. ADVERTISEMENT Israel responded swiftly, launching air raids on Iranian soil, including Tehran's defence ministry headquarters and oil infrastructure north-west of the capital. Reports indicate significant civilian casualty figures, with estimates of over 400 killed in Iran—among them senior intelligence officials and nuclear scientists—and widespread damage to military and energy facilities. Tensions have sharply escalated since 13 June, when Israel struck more than 100 Iranian nuclear and missile targets—including the Natanz enrichment site—and Iran retaliated with over 150 missiles and 100 drones. Iran's unleashing of the Haj Qassem missile, equipped with precision guidance and capable of defeating advanced defence systems such as THAAD, points to a deliberate attempt by Tehran to recalibrate its deterrent and projection strategy. Military experts highlight that this marks Iran's first operational use of the missile. Its nomenclature invokes Soleimani, reinforcing a hardline posture and signalling that Iran's strike capabilities now carry symbolic weight. The combination of drones and guided missiles indicates a doctrinal evolution, embracing multi-layered saturation tactics to neutralise high-value targets and degrade air-defence shields. Amid soaring civilian casualties and escalating strikes, diplomatic channels appear stifled. The EU has convened emergency ministerial talks; several Gulf states, Turkey, Russia, and Cyprus have proposed mediation. Meanwhile, U.S. President Trump has refrained from direct involvement but backed Israel's defensive actions, vetoing an Israeli move to target Iran's supreme leadership. Analysts caution the conflict may spiral, especially if Iran follows through on threats to close the Strait of Hormuz or activate proxy networks. Israel has warned of prolonged operations intended to degrade Iran's nuclear and missile programmes, not regime change. Public sentiment in Israel reveals a fraying consensus: support for striking Iran remains, but trust in the government's capacity to ensure civilian safety has weakened. Behind the scenes, emerging hybrid warfare techniques suggest wider implications. Intelligence reports indicate Israeli special forces and Mossad operatives executed a covert sabotage campaign inside Iran ahead of the air raids, targeting air-defence infrastructure and missile systems with drones—marking a blended human–machine offensive that preceded aerial strikes. This mirrors precedents such as Ukraine's deep-drone tactics in Russia and signals a shift towards low-cost yet potent asymmetrical operations. The Haj Qassem missile's debut signifies Iran's response to degradation of its assets and its intent to shore up deterrence. While the overall casualty count remains uncertain, both nations appear prepared to sustain pressure, raising regional and global stakes. The emergence of precision drone-satellite operations, alongside strategic missile deployment, underscores a stark evolution in the confrontation, pushing the conflict into a perilous new phase. Iran launches missiles and drones at Israel
