Iran’s Missile Barrage: Full Breakdown
On June 14, 2025, Iran launched its largest-ever direct missile attack on Israel. In retaliation for Israeli airstrikes on Iranian military assets, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired over 150 ballistic missiles and 100+ drones toward Israeli targets.
Types of Missiles Used by Iran
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Fattah-1
- Type: Hypersonic Medium-Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM)
- Range: ~1,400 km
- Speed: Mach 13–15; advanced maneuverable warhead for defense evasion
- Debuted in 2024; specifically designed to defeat Arrow and David’s Sling air defenses.
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Kheibar Shekan
- Type: Solid-fuel MRBM with maneuverable reentry vehicle
- Range: ~1,450 km
- Speed: Mach 5+ at impact
- Purpose-built to overwhelm multi-layered Israeli defenses.
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Qassem Bassir
- Type: Newest IRGC solid-fuel MRBM (Unveiled May 2025)
- Range: ~1,200 km
- Features: Multi-stage guidance, optical seeker, advanced countermeasures
Strategic Impact
- Hypersonic and maneuverable missiles like Fattah-1 and Kheibar Shekan are designed to penetrate Israel’s advanced air defense layers.
- The massive volume of simultaneous launches is intended to overwhelm Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow systems.
- Despite intercepts, several warheads reached their targets, resulting in injuries and minor damage in central Israel.
- This attack marks a direct state-on-state escalation, shifting away from traditional proxy conflict in the region.
What’s Next?
- Retaliation: Israeli airstrikes on Iranian missile bases are anticipated.
- Global impact: Oil prices spiked instantly; the region faces severe escalation risk.
- Defense upgrades: Israel may deploy experimental Iron Beam (laser) and additional interceptors.
Summary Table: Iranian Missiles Used
| Missile | Type | Range (km) | Speed | Penetration Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fattah-1 | Hypersonic MRBM | ~1,400 | Mach 13–15 | Maneuverable warhead |
| Kheibar Shekan | Solid-fuel MRBM | ~1,450 | Mach 5+ | Maneuverable RV |
| Qassem Bassir | Solid-fuel MRBM | ~1,200 | Unknown (MRBM) | Advanced seeker & countermeasures |