June 17, 2025 – 10:47 p.m. (PE time)
(Source: AFP, Mehr, Press TV)
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran announced on Wednesday that it had launched Fattah-1 hypersonic missiles in its latest wave of attacks against Israel. According to an official statement broadcast by Iranian state television and echoed by semi-official outlets such as Mehr and Press TV, this offensive marks the eleventh phase of the military operation dubbed “True Promise III.”
The IRGC declared that this strike represents a "turning point" in its campaign, claiming that its Aerospace Force had "gained full control over the skies of the occupied territories." Spokespersons described the strike as “the beginning of the end for the Zionist army’s mythical missile defense.”
The Fattah-1 missiles, unveiled in 2023 and personally named by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, are a new generation of projectiles. Iranian authorities claim they possess hypersonic capabilities and can evade conventional defense systems.
During the missile’s unveiling, a giant banner was displayed in Tehran bearing a message in Hebrew: “400 seconds to Tel Aviv.”
According to state media, the missiles launched in this wave have an estimated operational range of 1,400 kilometers and can carry payloads of up to 450 kilograms. The IRGC described the Fattah-1 as “powerful and highly maneuverable,” claiming they “pierced the Israeli missile shield” and “shook again and again the shelter of the cowardly Zionists,” as stated in the organization’s communiqué No. 10.
This would be the first publicly acknowledged use of the Fattah-1 in the current conflict, which escalated following Israeli airstrikes on Iranian infrastructure in Syria and other locations. Iran had previously launched dozens of Fattah-1 missiles during the October 1, 2024 attack on Israel.
State broadcaster Press TV said the IRGC views this phase of the offensive as a clear demonstration of Iran’s military capabilities and a deterrent message. “The deployment of Fattah missiles marks the beginning of a new stage in the confrontation, in which the enemy’s defenses are no longer invulnerable,” the channel reported, citing military sources.
However, international experts have raised doubts about the Fattah-1’s alleged hypersonic capabilities. Despite Iran’s claims, there is no independent verification that the missile meets the criteria of exceeding Mach 5 speed and being maneuverable — both essential for true hypersonic classification.
The IRGC concluded its statement by congratulating “the devoted commanders and fighters of the Aerospace Force,” highlighting that the operation was “a source of pride” and had caused “confusion and self-destruction” within Israeli forces.