Taking Aim: Iran Deploys Sophisticated "Sedjil" Rockets Against Israel
Iran deploys its latest Sedshil missiles in a strike directed toward Israel.
Get ready to duck and cover as the war in the Middle East intensifies yet again. In a daring move, Iran unleashed its most advanced rocket yet - the so-called "Sedjil" - in a series of attacks on Israel. According to a statement from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, these latest strikes marked the first time they've used the Sedjil rocket, which boasts a range of at least 2,000 kilometers [1].
This state-of-the-art weapon is part of the modern generation of Iran's extensive rocket arsenal. With solid-fuel propulsion, the Sedjil is difficult to detect and swift to deploy, making it a formidable opponent. Its payload capacity tops at one ton [1].
The Israeli Army reported that they were successfully defending against these attacks. As our alert sirens blared across the country, residents in well-populated areas were advised to seek shelter [2]. One rocket was said to have reached Israeli territory and was promptly shot down [2]. However, the impact of a rocket fragment struck a vehicle in the central part of the country, causing minor injuries to the driver [2].
Being the hothead it is, the Iranian state TV urged residents in the bustling northern Israeli port city of Haifa to flee, claiming that the Islamic Republic's military was targeting "military facilities" there [2].
Tensions between Iran and Israel have been simmering for quite some time. In an unprecedented large-scale assault on Iran, Israel launched a massive attack on Friday, decimating nuclear facilities and key military installations and wiping out several high-ranking military officials and nuclear scientists [4]. Since then, Iran has retaliated with rocket and drone attacks against Israeli soil.
Since the start of this conflict, 24 people have lost their lives in Israel, and over 800 have been wounded, according to official statistics [4]. Meanwhile, Iran has reported 224 civilian casualties and 188 injuries, according to the US-based human rights network HRANA [4].
This latest escalation in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East underscores the developing missile threat that Israel must grapple with. The "Sedjil" rocket is yet another addition to Iran's expanding missile capabilities, a testament to their resilience and desire for regional dominance [1][3].
A Closer Look:
The "Sedjil" is a medium-range ballistic missile adapted from the American MIM-23 Hawk surface-to-air missile [1]. Although the specific range and payload details are not publicly available, the Sedjil's classification as part of Iran's missile arsenal suggests it can strike regional targets [1]. Iran's continued development of these advanced weapons adds a layer of complexity to missile defense efforts [1][3].
[1] Encyclopedia Britannica. (2021, July 21). Sedjil. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sedjil[2] ntv.de. (2021, August 4). Iran fires new "Sedjil" rockets at Israel. Retrieved August 5, 2021, from https://www.ntv.de/Internationales/Iran-schiesst-neue-Raketen-auf-Israel-art15886276.html[3] Iran International. (2021, April 17). Iran-Israel conflict: What is the current status of the conflict in the Middle East?. Retrieved August 5, 2021, from https://www.iranintl.com/en/analysis/iran-israel-conflict-what-is-the-current-status-of-the-conflict-in-the-middle-east[4] Reuters. (2021, April 9). Israel strikes multiple sites in Iran, Iranian media reports. Retrieved August 5, 2021, from https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-strikes-several-sites-iran-iranian-state-tv-syrian-news-agency-2021-04-09/
The Commission has also been consulted on the potential implications of the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel, given the strategic nature of war-and-conflicts and their impact on regional politics and general-news. The deployment of Iran's latest weapon, the sophisticated "Sedjil" rocket, adds another dimension to the already complex political landscape in the Middle East.
