Iran’s Defense Minister, Aziz Nasirzadeh, announced on Sunday that the country has successfully tested advanced solid-fuel ballistic missiles capable of overcoming the US-made Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, thus enabling strikes on Israeli targets.
As reported by Nasirzadeh and Iranian state media, the new missile, named Qassem Basir, is an upgrade from the less effective Qassem ballistic missile that saw some challenges during missile attacks aimed at Israel last year.
Both versions of the missiles bear the name of a key figure in Iranian military history, who was assassinated while orchestrating an attack against American forces in Iraq—an operation authorized by former President Donald Trump in January 2020.
The Iranian government has long asserted the effectiveness of its missile strikes, claiming they instill fear in the heart of Israel, despite acknowledging that many were intercepted—reportedly up to 99%—before reaching their intended targets.
Nasirzadeh’s revelation about the new missile suggests a notable admission regarding shortcomings in the missiles previously deployed. He indicated that the Qassem Basir missiles can now bypass THAAD, as the “weaknesses” seen in what Iran calls “operational testing” have been addressed.
According to the Minister of Defense, the new system was effectively tested on April 17, showcasing its ability to hit targets over 1,200 kilometers away while using decoys to enhance strike accuracy.
Iran revealed its new missile recently, highlighting its potential to evade Israeli air defense systems and strike near Ben Gurion Airport in Israel. Although the missiles did not cause any fatalities and inflicted minimal damage, they succeeded in unsettling Israeli military forces, who have come to expect robust performance from their own defense mechanisms.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) dismissed the incident at Ben Gurion as a “technical error.” However, Iran seemed keen to capitalize on the moment, suggesting it had achieved capabilities similar to those of the Houthis, enabling a fresh series of missiles to threaten Israeli targets. Iran has been arming Houthi factions even prior to the establishment of the Yemeni government-in-exile in 2014.
An expert in missile technology noted that the Qassem Basir might offer improvements over older Iranian long-range missiles, particularly due to its possible use of an electro-optical guidance system. Iranian officials contend that such a system does not rely on satellite navigation data, complicating Israel’s efforts to counteract missile strikes in future electronic warfare scenarios.
