Iran has fired its Sejjil ballistic missile during the ongoing conflict with Israel and the United States, marking the first time the weapon has reportedly been used since the war began on February 28, according to Iranian state-linked outlet PressTV.
The missile strike formed part of a wider barrage targeting Israeli positions and US-linked military sites across the region as fighting entered its 16th day.
The Sejjil missile, sometimes referred to as Sajjil or Ashoura, is an indigenously developed medium-range ballistic missile and one of the most advanced weapons in Iran’s missile programme.
What makes the Sejjil missile significant
The Sejjil-2 is a two-stage ballistic missile powered by solid fuel and capable of travelling roughly 2,000 kilometres, allowing it to reach targets across much of the Middle East.
According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the missile measures about 18 metres in length, has a diameter of roughly 1.25 metres, and weighs approximately 23,600 kilograms. It can carry a payload of around 700 kilograms.
The missile has gained the nickname “dancing missile” because of its ability to manoeuvre at high altitude, making interception by missile defence systems more difficult. Its solid-fuel propulsion allows faster launch preparation compared with older Iranian missiles that relied on liquid fuel, reducing the time required to deploy the weapon during conflict.
Development and testing history
Work on the Sejjil programme began in the early 1990s as Iran expanded its domestic missile capabilities.
The first publicly reported test launch took place in 2008, when the missile travelled approximately 800 kilometres. A second test followed in May 2009, focusing on improvements in guidance and navigation systems.
According to assessments by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, several additional flight tests have been carried out since then. In one later test, the missile reportedly travelled nearly 1,900 kilometres into the Indian Ocean.
Conflict enters third week
The missile launch comes as the war between Iran, Israel, and the United States continues to intensify.
The conflict escalated after joint US-Israeli strikes targeted Iranian facilities late last month. Iran has since carried out missile and drone attacks on Israeli territory and US military bases in several Gulf countries. The Pentagon has said that US and Israeli forces have struck more than 15,000 targets across Iran since the war began.
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US media reports also indicate that the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA‑7) has been deployed to the region along with around 2,500 US Marines as the conflict continues.
Casualty estimates vary, but reports suggest that over 2,000 people have been killed, most of them in Iran.
