Israel-Iran conflict: Iran deploys the "Haj Qassem" guided ballistic missile in a strike on Israel

Iranian state media announced the deployment of its new Haj Qassem guided ballistic missile, named in honor of General Qasem Soleimani, in a wave of strikes targeting Israel. Qassem Soleimani was the powerful commander of Iran’s Quds Force, killed by a US drone strike in 2020.

The missile is solid-fueled, has a reported range of 1,200 kilometers, and is designed to evade advanced missile defense systems such as the US THAAD and Israel’s Patriot batteries.

While exact damage reports remain classified, preliminary Israeli military sources claim that several incoming missiles were intercepted, though some did impact infrastructure in southern Israel.

What is the Haj Qassem missile?

Unveiled in early May by Iran’s Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, the Haj Qassem is a solid-fueled, medium-range ballistic missile boasting a range of roughly 1,200 km. It features a maneuverable reentry vehicle (MaRV) and advanced guidance systems, including optical/infrared seekers alongside inertial navigation designed to pierce through robust missile-defense systems like THAAD and Patriot.

Nasirzadeh emphasized the missile’s ability to “identify a specific target among multiple options” without relying on GPS.

Iranian Defense Minister Gen. Aziz Nasirzadeh told Iranian TV that the updated missile could bypass US and Israeli air defense systems, “It can identify and strike a specific target among many,” he said.

Western analysts remain skeptical of some of Iran’s performance claims, suggesting internal propaganda may play a role. Still, they acknowledge that the missile’s upgraded design signals serious strides in Iran’s long-range precision-strike capabilities.

Why the sudden launch now?

The strike is Iran’s direct retaliation against Israel’s recent offensive code-named Operation Rising Lion, which reportedly struck over 200 Iranian military and nuclear sites, including casualties among senior commanders and scientists.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei warned the strikes would get “no half‑measured response,” signaling a policy shift into full-tilt military confrontation.

Experts suggest the Haj Qassem is more than a symbolic missile; it’s a signal of Iran’s growing precision-strike capabilities.

With US forces scrambling to intercept incoming missiles and Israel warning of further strikes, analysts warn of another dangerous slide into all-out war.