Iran Reveals New ‘Jihad’ Missile as Middle East Tensions Soar

On Saturday, Iran unveiled a new ballistic missile developed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force, the “Jihad,” during a military parade in the country’s capital Tehran.

The parade, which comes amid escalating tensions and conflict in the region, was not in response to recent violence, but part of Iran’s “Sacred Defense Week,” which begins on September 21 and commemorates the Iran-Iraq War from 1980 to 1988. During this week, military parades take place in honor of the hundreds of thousands of Iranians killed during the war.

The IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency, along with other state outlets, reported that the solid-fuel Jihad missile, one of 21 ballistic missiles displayed at the parade, has a range of about 620 miles. Also showcased was Iran’s newest one-way attack drone, the Shahed 136B, which has an operational range of around 2,500 miles.

The military display follows two deadly attacks widely considered to be executed by Israel on Lebanese soil using booby-trapped pagers. Israel has not publicly claimed credit for the attacks or denied responsibility, and a United States official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Associated Press that Israel briefed the U.S. on the operation.

Hezbollah members were targeted, however, numerous civilians, including children and medical workers, have been injured, maimed, and killed as the pagers exploded in public spaces and homes on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Estimates suggest dozens have been killed and more than 3,000 have been injured. Iranian ambassador to Lebanon Mojtaba Amani, was injured in the blasts and arrived at a hospital for treatment.

“Now again, this regime [Israel] has crossed a red line by targeting our ambassador,” Iranian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Amir Saeid Iravani said in a speech before the U.N. Security Council on Friday.

He also accused Israel of “committing systematic and provocative acts of terror” in the form of the “unprecedented” series of blasts that affected pagers, portable radios and solar equipment.

Iravani said that Iran “will rigorously pursue accountability for the attack on our ambassador in Lebanon,” asserting that, “We reserve our right under international law to take all necessary measures to respond to this egregious violation.”

Iranian-backed Hezbollah has engaged in numerous daily operations against Israel since the start of the October 7, 2023, war after Hamas, a Palestinian militant group also backed by Iran, launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages. Since then, Israel has flattened large swaths of Gaza, displaced over 2 million Palestinians, and killed upwards of 40,000 people.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah called the intentional detonation of pagers and walkie-talkies “a declaration of war,” asserting that Israel will receive “punishment” for it.

Hezbollah struck the Israeli border, and Israeli fighter jets hit southern Lebanon on Thursday. On Friday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it took out 16 Hezbollah commanders who were allegedly plotting an attack against Israel, and on Saturday, IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said, “Overall, today we’ve struck approximately 400 Hezbollah launchers” and that the IDF is “extensively striking” southern Lebanon.

Lebanon’s state news agency NNA reported heavy Israeli fire on Saturday, saying that Israeli aircraft carried out over 100 airstrikes within an hour.

Newsweek has reached out to the IDF and Iran’s Foreign Ministry for comment via email on Saturday.