Watch: How Iran missile slipped past interceptor rockets to strike target

Amid the escalating Iran–US–Israel conflict, a viral video circulating online appears to amusement an Iranian rocket evading aggregate interceptor rockets implicit Jerusalem earlier striking its target.The footage, reportedly recorded from a terrace, captured astir 10 interceptors heading toward the incoming missile. A spark is seen mid-air earlier the rocket continues its trajectory and hits. The nonstop clip and determination of the video person not been independently verified.Some societal media users person claimed the rocket could beryllium Iran’s Fattah system, which is designed with manoeuvrable glide capabilities to evade aerial defence interceptors.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has antecedently described Fattah missiles arsenic marking “the opening of the end” for Israel’s aerial defences, asserting that their manoeuvrability allows them to change trajectory during the terminal signifier of flight.

Iran’s broader rocket capabilityIran maintains 1 of the largest rocket arsenals successful the Middle East. In 2022, erstwhile US Central Command main General Kenneth McKenzie said Tehran possessed “over 3,000” ballistic missiles, excluding cruise rocket systems.

Its inventory includes short- and medium-range ballistic missiles specified arsenic the Fateh family, Zolfaghar, Dezful, Kheibar Shekan and Sejjil, alongside older Shahab and Ghadr variants. Ranges alteration betwixt 300 km and 2,000 km, with immoderate systems assessed arsenic perchance susceptible of longer scope if modified.Shift toward precision and survivabilityOver the past 2 decades, Iran has prioritised precision, solid-fuel propulsion and survivability implicit simply extending range.

Solid-fuel missiles are quicker to motorboat and little susceptible to pre-emptive strikes compared to liquid-fuel systems.Iran has besides invested successful manoeuvrable re-entry vehicles and terminal guidance systems, aimed astatine complicating interception by precocious aerial defence systems.Regional scope and regeneration effortsDespite reported harm to parts of its rocket stockpile successful caller strikes, analysts accidental Iran retains important onslaught capableness crossed the Middle East. Tehran has besides transferred rocket exertion to determination allies and proxy groups, expanding its strategical depth.While the nonstop size of its existent inventory remains unclear, the breadth of systems crossed ballistic and cruise categories suggests Iran’s rocket forces stay cardinal to its subject doctrine and deterrence posture.