New Delhi: Following the US’ strikes on key Iranian nuclear sites, tensions between Israel and Iran escalated on Sunday with the two Middle East rivals trading a barrage of missiles against each other. Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said it launched 40 missiles including Khooramshahr- 4, its biggest missile, during the attack on Israel. The Iranian state TV also aired a footage of what appeared to be the file footage of the Khorramshahr-4 with a caption saying it was used in a barrage on Israel.
Khooramshahr- 4, also known as Kheibar, is capable of carrying multiple warheads, according to Iran. The missile has a 2,000-kilometre range with a warhead of 1,500 kilogram and is 13 metre in length. It is capable of striking up to 80 small rocket projectiles by dispensing multiple warheads, according to Iranian state media.
Khooramshahr- 4 named after Iranian city
Khooramshahr- 4, a medium range ballistic missile, is named after an Iranian city that witnessed intense fighting during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s. The other name – Kheibar – is derived from a Jewish fortress, now in Saudi Arabia, which was conquered by the Muslims in the 7th century.
Described as an Iranian version of North Korea’s Hwasong-10 intermediate-range ballistic missile, Khooramshahr- 4 is believed to have the heaviest payload of Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal. First test-fired in January 2017, the missile was publicly displayed in military parades in 2017 and in 2019.
Israel-Iran war escalates after US steps in
Following US’ bombings, Iran mounted its attack on Israel by launching a wave of 40 missiles, injuring 23 people and destroying apartment buildings and homes in three cities. Israel also carried out another wave of bombings targeting military sites in western Iran. Israel claimed that the latest strikes destroyed Iranian missile launchers. The fresh exchange of missiles between Middle East rival followed the US attacking three nuclear sites in Iran – Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow – with US President Donald Trump warning Iran of more strikes if it retaliates.
