Iran intensifies attacks on Israel with hypersonic missiles PHOTO

Iran launched its most powerful missile assault in recent days on June 16, striking key Israeli cities including Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Bnei Barak with an unprecedented number of hypersonic missiles. The operation marks a significant escalation in Iran’s use of advanced weaponry and signals a potential shift in the balance of power in the ongoing conflict.

At the center of the attack was the deployment of Fattah hypersonic missiles by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force. These missiles, capable of reaching speeds between Mach 13 and Mach 15, a feat of hypersonic flight, demonstrated an ability to penetrate Israel’s multi-layered air defence systems with apparent ease, Caliber.Az reports via Iranian media. 

As part of the "True Promise 3" operations, Iran deployed a range of ballistic missiles, including the Ghader, Imad, Haj Qaseem, Fattah, and Khaibar Shekan. Compared to earlier attacks, these missiles appear to carry significantly more powerful warheads, as evidenced by the widespread destruction observed in the targeted areas.

Video footage from the strike shows several hypersonic projectiles hitting targets in Tel Aviv and Haifa, causing substantial destruction, including direct hits on a refinery and a power plant in the north. Experts note that the Fattah missile's unique capabilities—its solid-fuel spherical engine, movable nozzle, and mid-flight maneuverability—enable it to alter course during the final 500 kilometers of its trajectory, complicating interception attempts.

According to Iranian media, the June 16 attack is a turning point in Iran’s missile strategy. Unlike conventional ballistic missiles, which follow a predictable path, hypersonic missiles like the Fattah are designed to evade radar tracking and air defence systems by rapidly changing speed and direction in flight.

This latest round of strikes also points to a likely increase in Iran’s production and deployment of hypersonic weapons.

By Sabina Mammadli