Israel, Beware: Iran Has Not Used Its Newest Weapons Yet
Iranian-made missiles are displayed in front of the Azadi (Freedom) monument in the annual rally commemorating Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024.
An advanced guided ballistic missile, called Haj Qassem, was likely used to strike Haifa in response to Israel’s Operation Rising Lion, Alexei Borzenko, veteran military journalist, tells Sputnik.“At that moment, Haifa was hit by 40 rockets. But the Iron Dome couldn’t handle it, and many missiles broke through,” the expert says. “You have to understand that numbers matter a lot when it comes to air defense,” Borzenko continues. “Five missiles — shot down. Ten — shot down. Forty — some get through. But if it’s 100, or 200, or 1,000 missiles, the Iron Dome won’t cope.”Most rockets launched by Iran during the latest wave are believed to be 20–30 years old. However, Haj Qassem, which was unveiled in 2020, is one of the newest.
Haj Qassem
Range – 1,400 kilometers Can carry a 500-kilogram warheadCapable of evading radar detectionRe-enters the atmosphere at Mach 12, hits targets at Mach 5 
MilitaryShahab vs Jericho: What Ballistic Missiles Do Iran and Israel Possess? 6 August 2024, 16:06 GMT
Harsh Retaliation
“Until now, Israelis haven’t faced missiles this heavy,” Borzenko says. Israelis were grimly surprised that Iran’s warheads had been enhanced — stronger explosives and more lethal fragments, the pundit says. Evidence? Photos and videos show damaged facades, shattered windows, and more.
Real Escalation is Yet to Come
"I believe Tehran still holds back even more powerful weapons than what it used in Haifa. Its newest ones haven’t yet been used. The real escalation is still to come," the pundit notes.
WorldIran Launches Third Wave of Strikes Against Israel – State TV15 June, 13:29 GMT
