Kamal Ghorui
Amid the escalating Iran–US–Israel conflict, a viral video circulating online appears to show an Iranian missile evading multiple interceptor rockets over Jerusalem before striking its target.The footage, reportedly recorded from a terrace, captured around 10 interceptors heading toward the incoming missile. A spark is seen mid-air before the missile continues its trajectory and hits. The exact time and location of the video have not been independently verified.
Some social media users have claimed the missile could be Iran’s Fattah system, which is designed with manoeuvrable glide capabilities to evade air defence interceptors.The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has previously described Fattah missiles as marking “the beginning of the end” for Israel’s air defences, asserting that their manoeuvrability allows them to alter trajectory during the terminal phase of flight.Iran’s broader missile capabilityIran maintains one of the largest missile arsenals in the Middle East. In 2022, former US Central Command chief General Kenneth McKenzie said Tehran possessed “over 3,000” ballistic missiles, excluding cruise missile systems.Its inventory includes short- and medium-range ballistic missiles such as the Fateh family, Zolfaghar, Dezful, Kheibar Shekan and Sejjil, alongside older Shahab and Ghadr variants. Ranges vary between 300 km and 2,000 km, with some systems assessed as potentially capable of longer reach if modified.Shift toward precision and survivabilityOver the past two decades, Iran has prioritised precision, solid-fuel propulsion and survivability over merely extending range. Solid-fuel missiles are quicker to launch and less vulnerable to pre-emptive strikes compared to liquid-fuel systems.Iran has also invested in manoeuvrable re-entry vehicles and terminal guidance systems, aimed at complicating interception by advanced air defence systems.Regional reach and regeneration effortsDespite reported damage to parts of its missile stockpile in recent strikes, analysts say Iran retains significant strike capability across the Middle East. Tehran has also transferred missile technology to regional allies and proxy groups, expanding its strategic depth.While the exact size of its current inventory remains unclear, the breadth of systems across ballistic and cruise categories suggests Iran’s missile forces remain central to its military doctrine and deterrence posture.
