‘The Largest and Most Intense Attack’: Iran Threatens Escalation as Missiles Rain on Israel

Iran has declared it is gearing up for what it called the "largest and most intense missile attack" in its ongoing conflict with Israel, following a devastating overnight barrage that introduced its new Haj Qassem ballistic missile. Named after Qassem Soleimani, the Quds Force commander killed in a 2020 U.S. drone strike ordered by President Donald Trump, the missile was used operationally for the first time, targeting Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Bat Yam. Iranian state media reported the attacks killed 10 Israelis and injured 200, with residential buildings collapsing in Bat Yam, where three died, and four, including a 13-year-old girl, perished in Tamra, northern Israel.

Iranian Defense Minister Gen. Aziz Nasirzadeh, speaking in May, claimed the solid-fueled Haj Qassem, with a 1,200-kilometer range and manoeuvrable warhead, can evade U.S.-made Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) and Patriot systems deployed in Israel. “The new ballistic missile is also equipped with an advanced navigation system that allows it to hit targets precisely and counter electronic warfare,” stated Tasnim news agency. Unveiled in May 2025, the missile’s ability to penetrate defenses was evident as several broke through Israel’s multilayered air defenses, despite U.S. assistance in interceptions.

The strikes followed Israel’s Operation Rising Lion on June 13, which targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities, including Natanz, and military sites, killing 78, including top commanders like IRGC’s Hossein Salami, per Iran’s UN ambassador. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed a “decisive response,” signaling escalation with the Haj Qassem and its upgraded variant, Qassem Basir, which boasts enhanced guidance and a carbon-fiber body to reduce radar visibility. Over 370 missiles were launched, with 30 impact sites identified, causing 24 deaths and 592 injuries, including 10 in serious condition.

President Trump, distancing the U.S. from Israel’s strikes, wrote on Truth Social, “The US had nothing to do with the attack on Iran tonight. If we are attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the US Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before. However, we can easily get a deal done between Iran and Israel, and end this bloody conflict!!!” Trump previously labeled Soleimani the “number-one terrorist” for plotting attacks on U.S. forces.

With Israel’s airspace closed, 200,000 citizens stranded abroad, and 53 hostages held by Hamas, Iran’s missile advancements and vow for a larger attack heighten fears of a broader regional war.

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