File image.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on March 17 that it used a new “Haj Qasem” ballistic missile for the first time in a fresh wave of attacks against Israel, describing it as an advanced precision-guided weapon.
The strikes targeted sites in the cities of Beit Shemesh, Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem in the center of Israel, according to Tansim News Agency, which cited a statement by the IRGC.
The guards also said the barrage hit United States military bases in the Middle East, including facilities in Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Iraq.
Drones and several other ballistic missiles, including the Ghadr, Emad, and Fattah models, were also used in the strikes, per the IRGC.
Haj Qasem is named after the IRGC’s Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani, who was assassinated by the U.S. in Iraq more than six years ago. It is a medium-range ballistic missile with a solid-fueled, two-stage system. The missile range is reported to be up to 1,400 kilometers with a warhead weighing 500 kg.
At least eight salvos of missiles targeted Israel during the day, with warning sirens sending in the north, center and south of the country, sending millions into shelters. Multiple impacts were reported, some in the center were attributed to submunitions from missiles armed with cluster warheads. Still, there were no casualties, at least according to Hebrew media.
Early on March 18, an additional salvo of missiles was launched at Israel. Missiles armed with cluster warheads were also used, and multiple impacts were reported in the center of the country, mainly in Tel Aviv. Hebrew media reported causalities this time, with some reports indicating that at least two were killed.
The IRGC escalation came after Israel announced the assassination of Ali Larijani, the secretary of Iran’s National Security Council, and Basij paramilitary force commander Gholamreza Soleimani. The Islamic Republic has since confirmed that both were killed.
The Israeli Air Force also carried out several strikes against IRGC and Basij checkpoints in the Iranian capital, Tehran, in what appears to be an attempt to destabilize the situation in the Islamic Republic.
Taking advantage of recent assassinations and strikes, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Iranians to take to the streets to celebrate Nowruz, their ancient fire festival.
“In the past 24 hours, we knocked out two of the terrorist chieftains, the top terrorist chieftains of this tyranny,” said Netanyahu from the Air Force command bunker in the Kirya in Tel Aviv.
“Our aircraft are hitting the terror operatives on the grounds, in the crossroads, in the city squares,” he continued in English. “This is meant to enable the brave people of Iran to celebrate the Festival of Fire.”
“Celebrate and Happy Nowruz,” the primer added, reassuring Iran’s people that “we’re watching from above.”
No protests were reported, but Iranian opposition media, namely Iran International, said that the death toll in the Islamic Republic from the American-Israeli war has exceeded 5,000. So far, Iranian officials have reported some 1,444 fatalities, including civilians.
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