A closer look at 'Haj Qasem': Iran's ballistic missile used for the first time against Israel, US

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Tuesday it used a new "Haj Qasem" ballistic missile for the first time in a fresh wave of attacks against Israel and the United States, describing it as an advanced precision-guided weapon named after slain commander Qassem Soleimani.

The IRGC claimed the strikes targeted sites in Beit Shemesh, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. It also said the barrage hit US military bases in the region, including facilities in Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq.




The reported use of the missile comes as the Iran-Israel war enters its third week, with the conflict spilling across the Gulf, disrupting shipping lanes and drawing in multiple regional actors.

Named after Soleimani, the former head of the IRGC’s Quds Force killed in a 2020 US drone strike, the Haj Qasem missile carries both symbolic and military significance.

The missile is described as a road-mobile, solid-fuel medium-range ballistic missile with a reported range of about 1,200 to 1,400 kilometres, putting Israeli cities within reach. Solid-fuel systems can be launched more quickly than liquid-fuel missiles, reducing the window for interception before launch.

Iranian media reports say the missile is equipped with a manoeuvrable re-entry vehicle, which can alter its path during descent, potentially making it harder to intercept. It is also said to use a combination of inertial navigation and optical or infrared seekers, allowing it to strike targets without relying on GPS signals.

Iranian officials have claimed the missile can evade advanced air defence systems such as THAAD and the Patriot system, though such assertions are contested by Western analysts and remain unverified.

The Haj Qasem is reported to carry a payload of around 500 kilograms and travel at high speeds during atmospheric entry. Its road mobility is seen as enhancing survivability by allowing launchers to be moved and concealed.

In the current conflict, Iran has said it deployed the Haj Qasem alongside other ballistic missiles, including Ghadr, Emad and Fattah, as well as drones, in coordinated strikes. Analysts say such combinations are typically intended to complicate and strain air defence systems.

The introduction of the missile into active operations is being viewed as part of Iran’s broader reliance on ballistic missile capabilities, particularly in a conflict that has expanded beyond direct exchanges and is increasingly affecting the wider regional security landscape.

According to Iranian claims, the missile is equipped with a manoeuvrable re-entry vehicle, or MaRV, which can adjust its trajectory during descent. Such capability, if effective, could complicate interception by missile defence systems. Iranian media reports also say it uses advanced navigation systems, including inertial guidance and optical or infrared seekers, enabling it to strike targets without relying on GPS and to operate in contested electronic environments.

Iranian officials have further claimed that the missile can evade systems such as THAAD and the Patriot missile system, though these assertions are disputed by Western analysts. Independent verification of the missile’s full capabilities remains limited, but analysts note that Iran has been working to improve the accuracy and survivability of its missile arsenal over the years.

The Haj Qasem is reported to carry a payload of around 500 kilograms and to travel at very high speeds during atmospheric entry. Its road mobility adds to its survivability by making launch sites harder to detect and target.

In the current conflict, Iran has said it used the Haj Qasem alongside other ballistic missiles such as Ghadr, Emad, and Fattah, as well as drones, in coordinated attacks. This combination reflects a broader approach aimed at challenging air defence systems through multiple incoming threats rather than relying on a single platform.

The missile’s introduction into active operations appears to serve both operational and signalling purposes. It demonstrates Iran’s ability to deploy newer systems during a prolonged conflict while also sending a message about its strike capabilities amid sustained pressure from Israeli and US actions.

At the same time, the effectiveness of such systems depends not only on their technical specifications but also on real-world performance against layered air defence networks. As the conflict continues, assessments of the Haj Qasem’s impact are likely to evolve.