
Source: Newsweek
Aug 9, 2024
Iran Gives Ominous High Explosive Missile Warning
The Iranian Revolutionary Guards Navy (IRGCN) announced it has new cruise missiles equipped with highly explosive warheads that are undetectable, Tasnim news agency has claimed.
Tensions have been rising in the Middle East as Israel braces for retaliation following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
Iran and Hezbollah are widely expected to launch retaliatory attacks on Israel over the killing of officials in Iran and Beirut.
There are growing fears among the international community of a full-blown Middle East war after Iran vowed to exact retribution following the assassination of the leader of the political wing of Hamas.
Israel has not confirmed nor denied involvement in the assassination.
"In today's world, you either have to be powerful to survive or surrender. There's no middle ground," said the Guards' top commander, Major-General Hossein Salami.
"A large number of cruise missiles have been added to the Guards' navy fleet. These new missiles have capabilities of highly explosive warheads that are undetectable and can cause extensive damage and sink their targets," a Guards statement said.
Reports have emerged that Hezbollah is plotting to launch an attack on Israel before Iran, according to CNN.
Tehran also announced that various types of long- and medium-range missile systems, as well as reconnaissance drones and naval radars, have been added to its fleet.
"These systems are among the most up-to-date anti-surface and sub-surface weapons in the Guards' navy," it said.
According to Egypt's Civil Aviation Ministry, Egyptian airlines were ordered to avoid Iranian airspace for three hours on Thursday after a notice from Tehran to do so because of military drills.
The IRGCN is the country's most feared and powerful security organization. Iranian state TV aired footage displaying several of the weapons on Friday, 9 August.
The navy claimed only 210 of the 2,654 systems were shown due to security reasons.
Iran has one of the biggest missile programs in the Middle East, regarding such weapons as an important deterrent and retaliatory force against the U.S. and Israel in the event of war.
The U.S. meanwhile has issued a stark warning to Iran that it will suffer consequences if it proceeds to launch an attack against Israel.
"The United States has sent clear messaging to Iran that the risk of a major escalation if they do a significant retaliatory attack against Israel is extremely high," said an official, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Iran is armed with the largest number of ballistic missiles in the region, according to the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
Before his death, Haniyeh claimed Israel had killed 60 members of his extended family throughout the years, The New York Times reported.
Amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Israel has intensified its attacks in Gaza. An estimated 15 people have been killed following an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) bombing of two schools being used to shelter displaced Palestinians in the northern Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian Civil Defense.