Iran has claimed it launched Fattah-1 hypersonic missiles at Israel in the latest overnight assault as part of Operation Honest Promise 3, escalating an already volatile conflict between the two nations. In a statement released Wednesday, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had carried out the 11th wave of strikes, asserting that Iranian forces had gained “complete control over the skies of the occupied territories.”
The latest missile attack coincided with a fiery address from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who declared, “show no mercy toward Israelis”, as tensions surged following consecutive days of aerial bombardments.
While this is not the first time Tehran has deployed hypersonic weapons during the conflict—having used dozens of Fattah-1s on October 1, 2024, in Operation True Promise II—Wednesday’s launch marked the first confirmed use of the advanced missile in the ongoing wave of hostilities.
What Makes the Fattah-1 Hypersonic Missile a Game-Changer?
The Fattah-1 missile, unveiled in 2023, is Iran’s first hypersonic missile, personally named by Ayatollah Khamenei. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has dubbed the weapon an “Israel-striker” due to its high precision and ability to penetrate advanced air defense systems like Israel’s Iron Dome and Arrow.
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The missile measures 12 meters in length and has a range of up to 1,400 kilometers. Fuelled by solid propellant and utilizing a single-stage propulsion system, it is designed to deliver a 200-kilogram explosive warhead with unmatched speed and maneuverability. Its hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) warhead allows it to alter course mid-flight, making it exceptionally difficult to intercept.
According to Iran Watch, the Fattah-1 can reach speeds up to 17,900 km/h, far exceeding the Mach 5 threshold that defines hypersonic velocity. This allows the missile to evade interception by tracking systems, maintaining both surprise and accuracy during strike operations.
Escalation Amid Iran-Israel Tensions
The missile strike came as part of a broader exchange of hostilities that began on Friday, when Israel launched a series of unprecedented bombings targeting Iranian nuclear and military facilities. In response, Tehran escalated its retaliatory measures, including the launch of hypersonic weapons.
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Both nations have suffered civilian and military casualties, with residential areas hit in retaliatory fire. Reports from Israel indicate the deaths of senior Iranian commanders, Ali Shadmani and Gholam Ali Rashid, in targeted Israeli strikes.
The escalating violence has drawn global concern, as foreign governments rush to evacuate citizens amid fears of a broader regional war. Despite international alarm, neither Tehran nor Jerusalem appears willing to back down from the increasingly destructive confrontation.
