On Tuesday evening, Tehran launched 180 ballistic missiles at Israel, marking a strike twice as large as the one in April, according to Pentagon estimates. Iranian state television, cited by The Guardian, reported that Iran used its hypersonic Fattah missiles for the first time in this attack.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that approximately 180 ballistic missiles were fired from Iran, compared to the 300 drones and missiles launched in April during Iran’s first direct assault on Israel. However, the use of Fattah hypersonic missiles made this barrage far more potent than the spring offensive.
Pentagon spokesman Patrick Ryder stated that the scale of this attack was “twice as large” as what was seen in April. “You don’t fire this many rockets without intending to cause serious damage,” he remarked.
Despite the intensity of the attack, Israeli defense systems, bolstered by U.S. support, intercepted most of the missiles before they could cause significant damage or harm civilians on the ground. Israeli citizens took shelter as air raid sirens blared across the nation.
What are Fattah Missiles?
The Fattah missiles, Iran’s first hypersonic ballistic weapons, were officially unveiled in 2023. With a range of 1,400 kilometers and capable of reaching speeds of Mach 13-15 (13-15 times the speed of sound), these missiles represent a significant leap in Iran’s military capabilities. Iranian officials claim the missile can maneuver both inside and outside the Earth’s atmosphere, making it difficult for air defense systems to counter.
