Iran Launches Ballistic Missiles Named After Soleimani in Strikes Against Israel

On Saturday, Iran deployed newly developed ballistic missiles in a series of airstrikes targeting Israel, with the missiles named after General Qasem Soleimani, who was killed in 2020 under a US order.

These strikes resulted in the deaths of 10 individuals and left around 200 injured from Saturday to Sunday, according to CNN’s report referencing Fars News Agency.

The Iranian administration has asserted that the Hajikasem guided ballistic missiles were designed specifically to evade Israel’s Iron Dome defense system, claiming they can even bypass the US military’s Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system stationed in Israel.

Recent reports from Iran’s Tasnim News Agency noted that these missiles are equipped with advanced navigation systems, which allow them to accurately target enemies while mitigating the effects of electronic warfare.

The missiles reference General Qasem Soleimani, a notorious figure who led the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. His death in a drone strike in Iraq in 2020, ordered by President Trump, has been viewed as a significant escalation in US-Iran tensions.

At the time, Trump labeled Soleimani as the “number one terrorist,” justifying the action by asserting that the general was plotting imminent attacks against American diplomats and military personnel.

Following Soleimani’s death, Iran characterized the strike as an act of war, launching missile attacks on US targets in retaliation for the killing of their high-profile military commander.