Latest news with #Fattah-1
IOL News
14 hours ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Israel, Iran Conflict: Peace is a Fantasy When Faced With a War Machine Addicted to Dominance
Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men inspect the damage at the site of an Iranian missile strike in Bnei Brak, east of Tel Aviv, on June 16, 2025. Iran unleashed a barrage of missile strikes on Israeli cities early on June 16, after Israel struck military targets deep inside Iran, with both sides threatening further devastation. Image: JOHN WESSELS / AFP) Dr. Reneva Fourie Israel has gone completely rogue, making it the greatest threat to world peace. Having all but obliterated Gaza, it is now turning its aggression towards the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran is defiantly responding with its Iron Dome penetrating Fattah-1 hypersonic missiles. Defiance is a characteristic of most in West Asia. Its people have paid dearly for daring to assert their political independence, safeguard their resources, and give their support to Palestine. The cost has been staggering: millions of lives lost – victims of Western-instigated wars cloaked in the language of human rights, democracy, and counterterrorism. Over the past few months, that same machinery of destruction has intensified its focus on Gaza. Israel, the United States' key proxy in the region, has unleashed devastation on a shocking scale. Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been massacred with impunity. It began when Hamas, the governing party of Gaza and a key component of the Palestinian liberation movement, launched an attack in response to Israel's decades of repression. What followed was not proportional 'defence'. It was genocide. Civilians – mostly women and children – were annihilated or buried under rubble. Survivors were starved and denied clean water. Humanitarian aid was blocked, hospitals were bombed, and neighbourhoods were razed. While the world fixated on hostages taken by Hamas – many of whom were later killed by Israel's indiscriminate bombings – the real humanitarian catastrophe was being ignored. Israel detained thousands, including children, and subjected them to systematic torture and sexual violence as it continued its military rampage, emboldened by unconditional US and European support. International outcry, court rulings by the ICJ, and arrest warrants from the ICC were brushed aside. Nothing could stop the West's killing spree; not law, not diplomacy, not conscience. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ But Israel's aggression extends beyond Gaza and the West Bank. It has steadily eroded Syrian sovereignty, assassinating Iranian advisors who were legally assisting the Syrian government. Together with the US and Turkey, Israel facilitated regime change in Syria, deposing the elected Ba'ath Party in favour of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an extremist outfit with little public legitimacy. Hezbollah, an unwavering defender of Palestine, saw key members of its leadership wiped out and much of southern Lebanon reduced to rubble under Israeli bombs. And then there is Yemen. When Ansar Allah declared solidarity with the Palestinians, their resistance was met with significant military force. The US, unashamedly, used its might to pummel one of the poorest nations in the world. At the heart of Western aggression lies Iran – a country that has shown enormous restraint in the face of years of provocation, assassination, and sabotage. Its military and political leaders have been murdered, not on battlefields, but in targeted killings. Its scientists – brilliant minds working to advance nuclear energy for peaceful medical and industrial purposes – have been gunned down simply for daring to dream of self-sufficiency. A Palestinian man carries a wounded child in Al-Bureij camp in the central Gaza Strip after the area was targeted by an Israeli strike, on June 17, 2025, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Image: Eyad BABA / AFP Iran's pursuit of nuclear technology is not a prelude to war. It is an assertion of dignity. Its nuclear programme powers homes, fuels hospitals, and propels research in oncology and aerospace fields. Yet that progress has become a threat to the West, not because of its military potential, but because it symbolises independence, ingenuity, and resilience. Washington cannot tolerate a West Asian power that surpasses it in science or dares to challenge its monopoly on influence. It is conveniently ignoring the reality of Iran's nuclear programme, elevating its military capability above civilian use. Ironically, the US, as well as Israel, apartheid South Africa and others, produced significant nuclear military capability during the Cold War era. Although Israel has not confirmed or denied having nuclear weapons, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reported that Israel possessed 90 nuclear warheads in 2024. However, some analysts suggest a maximum of 300 warheads using the estimated amounts of fissile material. Furthermore, Israel possesses three types of delivery systems for military use of nuclear weapons: F-15 aircraft, ground-based missile installations, and German Dolphin I and II class submarines. While democratic South Africa willingly signed and complied with treaties containing prohibitions on participating in nuclear weapon activities, Israel and the US are escaping accountability. In 2024, it was estimated that the US had 1,770 active nuclear warheads, 1,938 stored as reserves, and 1,336 that were retired and pending dismantlement. It is the US that reneged on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on nuclear programmes with Iran, and it is the US that betrayed the current nuclear negotiation efforts. History is being repeated. The US plays a double game – stalling negotiations while equipping Israel with the intelligence, weapons, and diplomatic cover to strike Iranian assets. Just as the US and allied forces invaded Iraq in 2003 on the pretext of disarming its non-existing weapons of mass destruction, Israel launched an unprovoked missile attack on Iran on 13 June. International law is failing. It has become a selective tool, weaponised against the weak and ignored by the powerful. The principles of sovereignty, justice, and human rights lie in tatters as the US-Israel-Europe axis champions their compulsive fixation on warfare, dominance, and aggression. Reason no longer applies. Appeals to humanity fall on deaf ears. The corpses of children, the wails of mothers, and the ruins of ancient cities are met with silence, or worse, justification. Iran, like many in the Global South, has drawn its conclusions. Civilians died. Hundreds were wounded. Iran responded with precision – as allowed under international law – but was met with more indiscriminate Israeli bombing. Once again, innocent lives are the collateral damage. As the US-Israel-Europe axis enforces the logic of war, Iran has accepted reality. The only way to avoid destruction and the blatant move towards regime change is to resist. Diplomacy is worthless when the other side bargains in bad faith. Peace is a fantasy when faced with a war machine addicted to dominance. Iran has no choice but to mobilise its full military capacity. The fire that was ignited in Ukraine has now expanded to West Asia. A new front has opened, and Iran will not fight it with half-measures. This moment is a wake-up call for the Muslim world and, indeed, for all oppressed countries and for the anti-imperialist peoples of the world. As Ayatollah Khamenei warned, 'The Zionist regime won't bring security for any government.' Those states collaborating with Israel in hopes of American favour are deluding themselves. The West respects no ally; it respects only obedience. You are discarded or destroyed when you cease serving their interests. The solution lies not in appeasement but in self-reliance. The only protection against bullying is economic, military, and cultural strength. Domestic manufacturing must rise. Regional alliances with proven partners must be deepened. Nations that have weathered sanctions, sabotage, and siege understand the value of loyalty. Those are the partnerships worth investing in. The people of West Asia deserve peace. They deserve to preserve their history, teach their children without fear of bombs, and build a future rooted in dignity and sovereignty. But peace cannot come from pleading with aggressors. Sometimes, unfortunately, it must be sought through force. I share a poem written by Gail Van Breda in honour of my son, Sebastian, who died in a motorbike accident in Simonstown on 4 June. I, in turn, dedicate it to the people of West Asia. Let us not crash, too many deaths. How can we breathe, when breath ended for our loved ones. Let us not crash, too many voices gone silent, all at one time Let us not to crash, because how much more can this body take. We have to absorb so much. Let us not crash, because the living must now adjust to this new reality Let us not crash, let us not fall apart, How do we keep all together to grieve, loud or in silence. Let us not crash, where is our hope, what can we hold on to, what would make this time of mourning better, how are we expected to get through this! Let us not crash, maybe join hands, to keep this life together Let us not crash, let us not fall apart Because this life is teaching us how to die. We have been dying. The walking dead. Let us not crash, because we know, this life is not forever Cry, feel, let us not crash Let us find comfort. But I don't know from where, because nothing makes sense. Death, you remind us of the dualism of life. Death and life. In our lived experiences, we cannot even live. Everyone is in a fight for survival. And when death opens its coffin, we die again. We are always dying. Our children, our parents, our loved ones, dying Let us not crash, because how much more must this body, this physical earth life experience take. * Dr Reneva Fourie is a policy analyst specialising in governance, development and security. ** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL, Independent Media or The African.
India.com
a day ago
- Politics
- India.com
Israel-Iran war: Did Iran get deadly Fattah-1 hypersonic missiles from Pakistan or China? Experts make big claim, say Iran's hypersonic technology is…
Iran's Fattah-1 hypersonic missile can reach speeds of up to Mach 15. (15 times the speed of sound). Israel-Iran war: Iran has fired more than 400 missiles at Israel in 12 waves of retaliatory strikes since Israel-Iran war erupted last week, and interestingly, the quality of Iranian missiles launched towards the Jewish state has improved with each wave, with the latest strikes consisting of the Fattah-1 hypersonic missile, and the Sejjil-2 solid-fueled two-stage ballistic missiles. Did Pakistan or China provide Iran with the Fattah-1 hypersonic missile? Notably, soon after Iran's Fattah-I hypersonic missiles struck Israel, rumors began circulating on social media that Tehran may have acquired the advanced missile from one of its allies, China, Pakistan, Russia, or even Pakistan. However, defense experts have shut down these rumors, stating that Iran's hypersonic technology is completely indigenous, and there is no evidence that the Fattah-1 missile was 'obtained' from any foreign country. They said that the Fattah-1 is a domestically-developed hypersonic missile system, designed and manufactured by Iran's state-owned Defense Industries Organization (DIO), as part of its missile research and development program. The DIO works under the IRGC Aerospace Force, the IRGC's aerial unit. Why many believed Iran's Fattah-1 missile was 'acquired' from Pakistan? The rumor stems from similar-sounding weapons systems of Pakistan and Iran, that share somewhat similar names but are completely different platforms. The Iranian Fattah-1 is a state-of-the-art hypersonic missile system, while Pakistan has Fatah-1, a rocket artillery system designed for short-range bombardment. Though the names sound same, both are completely different military technologies, with vastly different purposes, range, and capability. Additionally, Pakistan has not developed any hypersonic technology so far, with Iran being only the fourth nation after India, China, and Russia, to develop the capability. A few experts believe that Iran may received technical know-how or indirect help from China or North Korea, but there is no concrete for the claim. How powerful is Iran's Fattah-I hypersonic missile? The Fattah-I, a precision-guided, two-stage hypersonic ballistic missile, is the most advanced missile fired by Iran so far. The Fattah missile is powered by solid fuel, and has a movable nozzle for advanced maneuverability. The hypersonic missile, first unveiled by Iran in 2023, has a range of 1,400 km, and is capable of operating inside and beyond the Earth's atmosphere, reaching speeds of up to Mach 15, according to reports. Hypersonic missiles are much more difficult for air defenses to intercept, because of their ability to maneuver mid-flight while flying over Mach 5 speeds. According to the IRGC, almost all of its ballistic missiles briefly reach hypersonic speed when they dive toward a target. As per reports, the Fattah-1 missile is activated using a spherical propellant and can change course in all directions during flight, making detection and interception almost impossible. Iran is only the fourth country after India, China, and Russia to have successfully produced a hypersonic missile.
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Israel-Iran conflict: Tehran claims first hypersonic missile strike on Israel; what is Fattah-1?
The Israeli Iron Dome air defence system fires to intercept missiles during an Iranian attack over Tel Aviv, Israel, early Wednesday (Image credit: AP) Iran has claimed possession of hypersonic missiles and has begun deploying them against Israel, reported news agency AP. The ongoing Iran–Israel conflict escalated on Wednesday when Iran fired a Fattah-1 hypersonic missile at Tel Aviv. The attack came shortly after US President Donald Trump demanded Tehran's unconditional surrender. On Thursday, Iran released a video showing the launch of the Fattah-1 missile aimed at Tel Aviv. Powerful explosions were reported in both Tel Aviv and in Iranian cities like Tehran and Karaj, following multiple missile attacks and retaliatory airstrikes. Iran Uses 'Undisclosed' Missiles In Operation True Promise III, Overwhelms Already Burdened Iron Dome This is not the first time Iran has used the Fattah-1 missile against Israel. Last year, Iran launched about 200 ballistic missiles under 'Operation True Promise II,' targeting two Israeli military bases and Mossad's headquarters, Israel's intelligence agency. What is the Fattah-1 missile? The Fattah-1 is Iran's first home-made hypersonic ballistic missile, introduced in 2023. It is named after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to Iranian state media, the missile has a range of 1,400 kilometres and can penetrate any existing defence system. It reportedly reaches speeds up to Mach 14 (about 15,000 km/h), according to Reuters. Iranian state TV claims that Fattah-1 can target the enemy's most advanced anti-missile defences and represents a major breakthrough in missile technology. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo CNN experts say that real hypersonic missiles, like glide vehicles and cruise missiles, can change direction throughout their entire flight, not just at the end. This makes them harder to track and stop. According to weapons expert Fabian Hinz, Iran's Fattah-1 missile likely uses a 'manoeuvrable reentry vehicle.' This means it can change direction during the final part of its flight, just before hitting the target, to avoid being shot down by defence systems. What are hypersonic missiles? Hypersonic weapons are defined as missiles that travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5, which is five times the speed of sound. In modern warfare, experts say that hypersonic weapons must also be able to change direction during flight using advanced navigation systems. This makes them difficult to track and intercept using traditional missile defence systems. Unlike traditional ballistic missiles, which follow a predictable path, hypersonic missiles can fly at lower altitudes and change their direction mid-air. Jack Watling, a defence expert at the Royal United Services Institute, explained that radar systems struggle to detect hypersonic missiles in time, especially when terrain blocks their view. "They appear suddenly and leave very little time to respond," he said.
India.com
a day ago
- Politics
- India.com
'Is it a meteor, or a dragon...'; Iran's Fattah-I hypersonic missile flies towards Israel at 15 times speed of sounds, videos go viral
Iran launched the Fattah-I hypersonic missile at Israel causing extensive damage. (Image: Screengrab/X) Israel-Iran war: Iran has fired more than 400 ballistic missiles towards Israel since the Israel-Iran war erupted on June 13, but its latest barrage has grabbed more global headlines and stunned military experts, as Iran's Fattah-I hypersonic missile reportedly flew towards the Jewish state at Mach 15 speeds (15 times the speed of sound), and pierced Israel's multilayered air defense system, including the famed Iron Dome. Visuals of Fattah-I flying in the skies and striking Israel went viral on social media, showing the blazing fast projecting piercing through the skies, with netizens wondering what kind of weapon Iran had fired. Some likened the sight to that of a mythical fire-breathing dragon, while others said it looked like a meteorite. THE MOMENT FATTAH-1 HYPERSONIC MISSILE STRUCK HAIFA — Iran Observer (@IranObserver0) June 14, 2025 🚀 Iran's Hypersonic Missile in Action – 'Fattah-1' This incredible footage shows what experts identify as Iran's Fattah-1 hypersonic missile, flying at speeds up to Mach 15 (~15,000 km/h). Designed to evade air defenses with a maneuverable warhead, it was reportedly used in… — Thinking Humanity (@ThinkingHumanit) June 14, 2025 More versed users asked whether Iran had launched a hypersonic glide vehicle. Later, it was revealed that Iran had fired its Fattah-1 hypersonic missile on the sixth day of the Israel-Iran war which marked the 11th phase of Tehran's Operation True Promise III, which was launched in retaliation to Israel's Operation Rising Lion. 'Turning point' in conflict, says IRGC In a statement, Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) termed the launch of the Fattah missile a 'turning point' in the ongoing conflict. 'The powerful and highly maneuverable Fattah missiles repeatedly shook the shelters of the cowardly Zionists tonight, sending a clear message of Iran's strength to Tel Aviv's warmongering ally, which continues to dwell in delusions and false assumptions.' Military analysts who analyzed the viral footage of the Fattah launch pointed out that the blistering speed and mid-flight maneuvering capabilities at Mach 13 to Mach 15 speeds make it extremely difficult for even the most advanced air defense systems to intercept the Iranian hypersonic missile. How powerful is Iran's Fattah-I hypersonic missile? The Fattah-I, a precision-guided, two-stage hypersonic ballistic missile, is the most advanced missile fired by Iran so far. The Fattah missile is powered by solid fuel, and has a movable nozzle for advanced maneuverability. The hypersonic missile, first unveiled by Iran in 2023, has a range of 1,400 km, and is capable of operating inside and beyond the Earth's atmosphere, reaching speeds of up to Mach 15, according to reports. Hypersonic missiles are much more difficult for air defenses to intercept, because of their ability to maneuver mid-flight while flying over Mach 5 speeds. According to the IRGC, almost all of its ballistic missiles briefly reach hypersonic speed when they dive toward a target. As per reports, the Fattah-1 missile is activated using a spherical propellant and can change course in all directions during flight, making detection and interception almost impossible. Iran is only the fourth country after India, China, and Russia to have successfully produced a hypersonic missile. How much damage did Fattah-I cause in Israel? According to media reports, the Fattah-I hypersonic missiles pierced Israeli air defenses, including the Iron Dome, and struck somewhere in Central Israel, causing significant damage and triggering massive fires in the region Israel-Iran war The Israel-Iran war erupted on June 13 when Israel unleashed a wave of pre-dawn air strikes on Iranian cities, including capital Tehran, under Operation Rising Lion, in which several top Iranian nuclear scientists and military commanders, including IRGC chief Hossein Salami, commander Ghulam-Ali Rashid, nuclear scientist Dr. Mohammad Tehranchi, nuclear scientist Dr. Fereydoon Abbasi and Iran's Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri. Hours later, Iran, under Operation True Promise III, responded with a barrage of missiles and drones that struck several Israeli cities and major population centers, including Tel Aviv. Both sides have launched devastating strikes on each other, causing significant damage to infrastructure and loss of civilian lives, even as world powers and global agencies, including the United Nations, have urged the two bitter enemies to exercise utmost restraint. According to various media reports, more than 240 people, including about top Iranian military officers and nuclear scientists, have been killed in Israeli airstrikes, while Iranian missile attacks have resulted in the deaths of more than 28 Israelis.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Indian students in Iran recall horror as Israel fires missiles: ‘Bombs in our neighbourhood'
The Indian government under 'Operation Sindhu' facilitated the return of 110 students from Iran, amid the country's conflict with Israel on Thursday. After being evacuated from the war-torn region, students recalled the fear and destruction that they witnessed. 'We saw missiles in the sky and heard bombs in our neighbourhood. We were petrified,' MBBS student Mir Khalif told PTI after arriving at Delhi airport on Thursday. Mir Khalif described the experience in Iran as a nightmare and thanked the Indian government for bringing them back home. Also Read: Iran's Fattah-1 hits Israel: All you need to know about the hypersonic missile "We saw missiles and heard bombings. It was a war zone. Our building shook during the attacks. I hope no student has to face what we did," he said. "There are students still stuck in Iran. They are being relocated to safer places. We hope they will also be airlifted to India soon," he added. The students, including 90 from Jammu and Kashmir, were moved from Tehran to Armenia earlier this week by the Indian embassy as explosions and air strikes rocked Iranian cities. Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh received the students at the airport and said in a post on X, 'Warmly welcomed home the first group of 110 Indian nationals evacuated from Iran as part of Operation Sindhu, reaffirming India's steadfast commitment to the safety and well-being of its citizens abroad.' Another student who was evacuated, Varta, who hailed from Kashmir, said 'We were the first ones to be evacuated from Iran. The situation was quite critical. We were terrified. We thank the Indian government and the Indian Embassy, which worked very fast and swiftly to bring us here.' Also Read: What is Iran's Arak heavy water reactor and why Israel attacked it? Explained "Our neighbourhood was attacked. When the Indian government came to our doorstep, it felt like home," she added. Ali Akbar, a student from Delhi, said the destruction was visible everywhere and that Tehran was 'in ruins.' "We saw a missile and a drone fall from the sky while travelling in a bus. Tehran is in ruins. The images on the news are real, the situation is very bad," he said. Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh confirmed that further evacuation efforts were scheduled under Operation Sindhu as well, and thanked the governments of Turkmenistan and Armenia for their help. "We have planes ready. We will be sending another plane today. We are evacuating some more people from Turkmenistan. Our missions have opened 24-hour helplines for any request for evacuation. As the situation evolves, we will be sending more planes to evacuate Indian nationals," he said. Haider Ali, father of MBBS student Maaz Haider, told PTI, "We are happy and grateful, but our hearts are still heavy knowing that many students are still stuck in Tehran. We urge the government to bring them back too." Parvez Alam from Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh, whose son studied in Urmia, said, "We were under constant stress. The students were shifted to Armenia and looked after well. We thank the government for this."
