Message for US through manoeuvrable Fattah missile strikes on Israel: IRGC

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has said it sent a pointed message to the United States through its latest military actions, deploying advanced manoeuvrable missiles in a series of strikes targeting Israel. 

The strikes, described as the 11th wave of punitive operations, utilised first-generation Fattah missiles, which the IRGC claims successfully penetrated Israeli air defences, demonstrating Iran’s growing military capabilities, according to a press release from IRGC, reports IRNA.

The IRGC said that the missile strikes were a direct response to an Israeli attack on Iranian territory on June 13, which targeted residential areas, killed civilians, and assassinated top Iranian military officials. The Iranian military’s retaliatory operations, which began shortly after, have hit key Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Haifa, with ballistic missiles and drones. 

The IRGC emphasised that the strikes showcased Iran’s “total control over the skies of the occupied territories,” leaving Israeli defences vulnerable.

Footage circulating from within Israel shows Iranian missiles striking ground targets, with the Israeli Iron Dome system reportedly malfunctioning for a second consecutive night, inadvertently causing fires in Tel Aviv. 

Social media posts and cell phone videos depict scenes of destruction, with Israelis navigating rubble and seeking shelter in underground bunkers as daily life grinds to a halt.

Iran’s Leader, Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei, appointed new military commanders on June 13 and vowed severe consequences for Israel, stating that “life would turn bleak” for the aggressor. 

The Iranian Armed Forces echoed this sentiment, promising to “open the gates of hell” as they launched their counteroffensive. 

Iranian officials have indicated that the operations will persist as long as necessary to address Israel’s actions.

The IRGC framed the use of the advanced Fattah missile as a deliberate message to the United States, Israel’s primary ally, warning against what it described as “delusional wishes” of unchecked influence. The strikes highlight escalating tensions in the region and Iran’s intent to assert its military prowess amid ongoing geopolitical rivalries.