This is Iran's hypersonic arsenal capable of breaching Israel's Iron Dome.

Tensions between Iran and Israel have escalated to an unprecedented level . It all began after a series of Israeli attacks launched as part of the so-called "Operation Rising Lion," which targeted Iranian nuclear facilities, ballistic missile bases, and military command centers. Among the victims is Hossein Salami , commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), considered one of Iran's toughest leaders .

Tehran's response was swift. Within hours, Iran activated its retaliatory force, launching massive waves of missiles and drones , with more than 200 projectiles in a single attack hitting targets in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and several cities in northern Israel . Some sources indicate that Iran had intended to fire up to 1,000 missiles, but Israeli airstrikes prevented the full deployment of the arsenal.

Although Israel claims to have intercepted most of the missiles thanks to its sophisticated air defense system, known as Iron Dome , several managed to land inside Israeli territory, causing deaths, injuries, and damage to civilian infrastructure. The Israeli military has acknowledged that "the defense is not airtight," referring to the saturation caused by simultaneous drone and missile attacks.

This confrontation has generated deep international concern and put the entire region on alert. But beyond the number of missiles, what has drawn particular attention is Iran's possible operational use of hypersonic weapons .

Iran may have used hypersonic missiles

This Saturday, June 14, a video circulated on social media showing what is described as the impact of a Fattah-1 hypersonic missile on the city of Haifa , in northern Israel. The footage, shared by the @DOGDEGA account, which specializes in war analysis, claims to show "the moment the Iranian Fattah-1 hypersonic missile hit Haifa." Although there is no official confirmation or independent verification, the footage has raised alarm bells.

The Russian news agency TASS reported : “Iran used at least one hypersonic missile to attack the Israeli city of Haifa, the Mehr news agency reported.”

Iranian state media has previously claimed that the Fattah-1 was used against Israel , but this would be the first time that a purported visual recording of the impact has become available.

What are Fattah missiles and why are they a concern?

The Fattah-1 was unveiled by Iran in June 2023 as "the only missile capable of penetrating all defense shields." With a range of 1,400 kilometers and an estimated top speed of 17,000 km/h , the missile can reach Israeli territory in minutes, and its maneuverability makes it extremely difficult to intercept, even for systems like the Iron Dome.

Five months later, Iran unveiled the second version, the Fattah 2 , which introduces hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) technology. This type of missile can change trajectory during flight, maneuver in the atmosphere, and evade traditional missile defenses. According to Iranian media, the Fattah 2 can hit targets 1,500 kilometers away.

A challenge for the world's most sophisticated air defense

Israel has one of the most advanced air defenses on the planet. Its architecture includes:

Despite this complexity, the Israeli Army itself has acknowledged that the waves of missiles and drones have temporarily overwhelmed its systems , allowing several projectiles to hit inhabited areas. Hypersonic missiles , due to their extreme speed and variable trajectory, exceed the capabilities for which these defenses were designed.

The Qassem Basir and the Kheibar Shekan, other key pieces

In addition to the Fattah, Iran has unveiled other next-generation missiles in recent months, such as the Qassem Basir, a solid-fuel, thermal-guided ballistic missile that does not rely on GPS and can evade systems like the Patriot.

Also notable is the Kheibar Shekan, used in the April and October 2024 attacks , with satellite control and maneuvering fins to guide the missile in its terminal phase.

According to US military estimates, Iran possesses more than 3,000 operational ballistic missiles, both short- and long-range. Its priority in recent years has not been to extend range, but rather to improve accuracy, speed, and the ability to penetrate defenses .