Iranian missile strikes injure 11 in Haifa and Tel Aviv: Kheibar Shekan’s first salvo

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched its first operational salvo of the Kheibar Shekan ballistic missile, striking Israeli cities Haifa and Tel Aviv, as well as Ben Gurion Airport, injuring at least 11 people.

The missile strike was a direct retaliation against recent US and Israeli airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities. The IRGC confirmed the deployment of the Kheibar Shekan, a road-mobile medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) with a range of 1,450 kilometers, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict.

According to the IRGC Public Relations statement reported by Iran’s Mehr News Agency, the attack involved 40 ballistic missiles, both solid- and liquid-fueled, targeting multiple high-priority Israeli locations including Ben Gurion Airport, a biological research facility, and alternative command-and-control sites.

"The Kheibar Shekan features a solid-propellant, single-stage engine and a Tri-Conic maneuverable warhead (MARV) capable of performing high-speed evasive actions during the terminal phase to bypass air-defense systems," the IRGC said, highlighting the missile’s advanced capabilities.

This missile strike follows US President Donald Trump’s announcement that American airstrikes had "totally obliterated" Iran’s main nuclear sites, signaling Washington’s direct involvement alongside Israel in the conflict.

The Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran responded by reaffirming its commitment to continue its nuclear program despite the attacks, emphasizing the efforts of "thousands of revolutionary and motivated scientists and experts".

The escalation underscores the volatile and rapidly intensifying tensions in the Middle East, with Iran demonstrating new missile capabilities and the US-Israel alliance intensifying military pressure on Tehran.

"The missile strike is a clear message of retaliation and deterrence," analysts say, marking a new phase in the Iran-Israel confrontation.

Iran’s IRGC launched the first operational salvo of its Kheibar Shekan ballistic missile, striking Haifa, Tel Aviv, and Ben Gurion Airport, injuring 11. The attack, a retaliation for US-Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, involved 40 missiles targeting key Israeli locations, marking a significant escalation in the Iran-Israel conflict.