The Israel Hezbollah War has intensified as Israeli have launched yet another air strike on Beirut. While Hezbollah launched long range Rockets into Israel for the first time since the war broke out between Israel and Hamas on the 7th of October last year. Watch to know more.

Israel-Hezbollah War: US To Discuss 'Concrete Ideas' On Lebanon

US President Joe Biden has said that US is working towards calming the situation in Lebanon. US is sending small number of additional troops to the region. Watch to know more.

Israel-Hezbollah War: US President Biden Says Working To Calm Situation In Lebanon

The Israel Hezbollah War has intensified as Israeli jets have launched yet another air strike on Beirut. While Hezbollah launched long range Rockets into Israel for the first time since the war broke out between Israel and Hamas on the 7th of October last year. Watch to know more.

Israel-Hezbollah War: Israel Says It Struck About 1,600 Hezbollah Targets

The Israel Hezbollah War has intensified, airbase aid sirens sounded deeper inside Israel including the city of Nazareth. Watch to know more.

Israel-Hezbollah War: 650 Attacks On Some 1,600 Hezbollah Targets

Iran unveiled a new ballistic missile and an upgraded one-way attack drone at a military parade on Saturday, state media said, amid soaring regional tensions and allegations of arming Russia.

New arms showcased at annual parade in Iran

<p>Iran unveiled a new ballistic missile and an upgraded one-way attack drone at a military parade on Saturday, state media said, amid soaring regional tensions and allegations of arming Russia.</p>

<p>Iran stands accused by Western governments of supplying both drones and missiles to Russia for use in its war with Ukraine, a charge it has repeatedly denied.</p>

<p>The solid-fuel Jihad missile was designed and manufactured by the aerospace arm of Iran's Revolutionary Guards and has an operational range of 1,000 kilometres (more than 600 miles), state news agency IRNA said.</p>

<p>The Shahed-136B drone is an upgraded version of the Shahed-136, with new features and an operational range of more than 4,000 kilometres (2,500 miles), it added.</p>

<p>New President Masoud Pezeshkian attended the annual parade in Tehran, commemorating the 1980-88 war with Saddam Hussein's Iraq.</p>

<p>"Today, our defensive and deterrent capabilities have grown so much that no demon even thinks about any aggression towards our dear Iran," he said.</p>

<p>"With unity and cohesion among Islamic countries...we can put in its place the bloodthirsty, genocidal usurper Israel, which shows no mercy to anyone, women or children, old or young."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israeli-strike-on-beirut-lebanon-ministry-says-at-least-31-killed-including-3-kids-760701"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Israeli strike on Beirut: Lebanon ministry says at least 31 killed including 3 kids</strong></a></p>

<p>Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivered a similar tirade against Israel to delegates to an annual meeting of Muslim clerics hosted by Iran, calling on Islamic countries to "completely cut off their economic relations" with Israel and "weaken political ties."</p>

<p>"This inner strength can eliminate the Zionist regime, this malignant cancerous tumour, from the heart of the Islamic community in Palestine and get rid of US domination and coercive interference in the region," he said.</p>

<p>Middle East tensions have soared since Iran-backed Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 sparking war in Gaza and drawing in Iranian allies around the region.</p>

<p>The tensions have intensified in recent days as the focus of Israel's firepower has shifted north to the Lebanon border where its troops have been battling the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Iran says Israel Will Face "A Crushing Response From The Axis Of Resistance"</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-says-israel-will-face-a-crushing-response-from-the-axis-of-resistance-760480/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>An Israeli air strike on Hezbollah's Beirut stronghold on Friday killed 31 people, including two of its top commanders, Lebanese authorities said, hot on the heels of deadly sabotage attacks on the group's communications earlier this week.</p>

<p>Britain, France, Germany and the United States slapped new sanctions on Iran earlier this month, alleging that it had been providing ballistic missiles for Russia's war effort in Ukraine.</p>

<p><em>Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.</em></p>


Iran unveiled a new ballistic missile and an upgraded one-way attack drone at a military parade on Saturday, state media said, amid soaring regional tensions and allegations of arming Russia. Iran stands accused by Western governments of supplying both drones and missiles to Russia for use in its war with Ukraine, a charge it has repeatedly denied. The solid-fuel Jihad missile was designed and manufactured by the aerospace arm of Iran's Revolutionary Guards and has an operational range of 1,000 kilometres (more than 600 miles), state news agency IRNA said. The Shahed-136B drone is an upgraded version of the Shahed-136, with new features and an operational range of more than 4,000 kilometres (2,500 miles), it added. New President Masoud Pezeshkian attended the annual parade in Tehran, commemorating the 1980-88 war with Saddam Hussein's Iraq. "Today, our defensive and deterrent capabilities have grown so much that no demon even thinks about any aggression towards our dear Iran," he said. "With unity and cohesion among Islamic countries...we can put in its place the bloodthirsty, genocidal usurper Israel, which shows no mercy to anyone, women or children, old or young." Also read: Israeli strike on Beirut: Lebanon ministry says at least 31 killed including 3 kids Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivered a similar tirade against Israel to delegates to an annual meeting of Muslim clerics hosted by Iran, calling on Islamic countries to "completely cut off their economic relations" with Israel and "weaken political ties." "This inner strength can eliminate the Zionist regime, this malignant cancerous tumour, from the heart of the Islamic community in Palestine and get rid of US domination and coercive interference in the region," he said. Middle East tensions have soared since Iran-backed Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 sparking war in Gaza and drawing in Iranian allies around the region. The tensions have intensified in recent days as the focus of Israel's firepower has shifted north to the Lebanon border where its troops have been battling the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. Watch | Iran says Israel Will Face "A Crushing Response From The Axis Of Resistance" × An Israeli air strike on Hezbollah's Beirut stronghold on Friday killed 31 people, including two of its top commanders, Lebanese authorities said, hot on the heels of deadly sabotage attacks on the group's communications earlier this week. Britain, France, Germany and the United States slapped new sanctions on Iran earlier this month, alleging that it had been providing ballistic missiles for Russia's war effort in Ukraine. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Iran unveils new missiles, one-way attack drone amid soaring West Asia tensions

Kim Jong Un personally oversaw the testing of a new ballistic missile and upgraded strategic cruise missiles on 18 Sept. He positioned Pyongyang's ongoing missile expansion as a countermeasure to what he described as “the grave threat of outside forces.” This latest demonstration underscores North Korea’s defiance amid rising regional tensions.

North Korea Tests New Ballistic Missile’s ‘Explosive Power’ In Latest Provocative Move

We live in an era where wars are not just waged with soldiers and tanks. They are fought with invisible weapons that shape perceptions and influence minds. On WION live conversation we discuss how the face of warfare is changing.

What caused Hezbollah pagers to explode ?

North Korea claims it has successfully test fired a new type of missile tipped with super large war head. Watch to know more.

North Korea tests Hwasongpho-11-DA-4.5 short-range ballistic missile

A 110 year old church was destroyed by Russian Army using aerial missiles. Watch to know more.

Russia-Ukraine War: 110-year-old church destroyed by Russia

North Korea has fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast, according to South Korea and Japan. The launches took place at about 7:10am on Thursday (22:10 GMT, Wednesday), days after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un promised to put his nuclear force fully ready for battle with its rivals.

North Korea launches fires short-range ballistic missiles off east coast

China leads the world when it comes to developing, testing and deploying Hypersonic weapons beating out Russia and the United States. As tensions escalate in the disputed South China Sea Beijing is focusing on its strategy to keep costs minimum in the Hypersonic arms race. Watch WION to know more.

China: Why China wants steel Hypersonic Missiles ?

Germany's military put the first Iris-T air-defence system into service on its own soil Wednesday having delivered several of them to war-torn Ukraine to intercept Russian rockets, drones and missiles.

Russian strikes keeps Germany on its toes

Recent satellite imagery shows major expansions at two key Iranian ballistic missile facilities that two American researchers assessed are for boosting missile production, a conclusion confirmed by three senior Iranian officials. Watch in for more details!

Iran expands missile production capacity, senior officials confirm expansion

Iran expands missile production capacity

North Korea test-fired two ballistic missiles. The missiles were launched in a northeasterly direction from the town of Jangyon in North Korea. The First missile flew 600 kilometres (370 miles) and the second missile 120 kilometres (75 miles).

North Korea launches two ballistic missiles off its east coast

President Vladimir Putin issued a warning, stating that if NATO partners permit Ukraine to use their weapons to attack Russian territory, Russia may supply long-range missiles to others for use against Western targets.

Putin: West should read Russia's nuclear doctrine

In reaction to NATO partners permitting Ukraine to use their weapons to attack Russian territory, President Vladimir Putin issued a warning on Wednesday, threatening to supply others with long-range weaponry so they could attack Western targets.

Putin: Russia could provide long-range weapons to others to strike Western targets

North Korea has fired a barrage of missiles towards its Waters in eastern coast. According to Seoul, Pyongyang fired 10 short range ballistic missiles towards the Sea of Japan. Watch in for more details!

North Korea fires short-range ballistic missile: South Korea

North Korea fires short-range ballistic missile towards sea of Japan: South Korea

<p>While drones have revolutionised the battlefield, it is the rise and proliferation of rockets and missiles that has impacted the battlefield and geostrategic statecraft. Their widespread employment in conjunction with traditional artillery and aircraft is the new battlefield paradigm. The global inventory of rockets and missiles has expanded geometrically. Firepower has changed drastically as rockets and missiles have been employed as geopolitical tools of coercion, as conventional weapons in battle and as a tool of power by non-state actors. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>The Geopolitical Tools of Coercion</strong></h2>

<p>North Korea pioneered provocative testing cum demonstrative firings of missiles and rockets as geopolitical tools of coercion since the late 70s. Initially, North Korean missiles had 50% failures. Current failure rates are only around 15%. As missile reliability improved, the North Korean threat has increased. In 2024, North Korea tested a cruise missile and IRBMs with hypersonic glide capability thrice. It keeps threatening the United States, South Korea and Japan through such firings. North Korea keeps firing a mix of unguided rockets, guided missiles and cruise missiles to keep the Eastern Pacific destabilised. It also conveys nuclear ambiguity through missile testing. It even fires conventional rockets mixed with tube artillery near inhabited areas to explicitly threaten and coerce South Korea. &nbsp;</p>

<p>China has a vast array of modern missiles and rockets. The PLARF is the largest ground-based missile force on earth. China regularly carries out large-scale rocket and missile firing demonstratively along with naval and air exercises to threaten and coerce Taiwan. The larger message is to demonstrate China’s resolve and capability to annex Taiwan, fight and win wars and project power globally. China uses the PLARF to convey its credibility and capabilities of nuclear deterrence and counterattack, strengthen intermediate and long-range precision strike forces, and enhance strategic counter-balance capability. It is a potent threat to China’s neighbours and adversaries. It also gives the PLA the ability to influence local, regional, and global military conflicts. In simple terms, it is geopolitical coercion on a global scale.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Rockets and Missiles in Conventional Battles</strong></h2>

<p>The &nbsp;Armenia and Azerbaijan conflict indicated how conventional wars will be fought using rockets, missiles, drones, and artillery. While its highlight was the extensive use of drones to complement conventional artillery, it also featured the heavy use of missiles and rocket artillery. This aspect has largely gone unnoticed. &nbsp;Both sides deployed and employed a range of rockets and missiles. These were a combination of legacy systems of the USSR era as also modern systems procured from different sources individually. Azerbaijan invested more into its rocket and missile arsenal to include guided rockets and MLRS systems to engage targets up to 200 km in depth. The balance tipped in Azerbaijan’s favour due to better drones and rocket artillery and a willingness to use them in an innovative and integrated manner. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The violence of firepower and its centrality in battle is reinforced in the Ukraine war. &nbsp;Employment of guns, rockets and missiles – guided, cruise and hypersonic has been unrestricted, imaginative and extensive. &nbsp;Major lessons have been drawn. Terrain, ground or weather might deter, inhibit or preclude the employment of Air, Infantry and Armour but nothing deters long-range Artillery. It overcomes terrain friction by striking deep. Despite static front lines, the daily situation changes due to orchestrated firepower strikes across the battlefield. Long-range vectors generate strategic as well as battlefield manoeuvre. They have been used to achieve political aims by deliberate firing on specified targets. Russia has postured with nuclear warheads and fired conventional warheads to achieve deterrence. It has done so through extensive use of air, hypersonic/cruise/guided missiles, rockets, and guns to deter NATO from getting directly involved. Ukraine uses rockets and cruise missiles imaginatively to deliver crucial blows to Russia. It has sunk a large part of the Russian Navy. &nbsp;Rockets and missiles have been used innovatively in executing ‘firepower ambushes’, &nbsp;undertaking ‘track and kill’ operations and carrying out ‘spoiling attacks’. A major factor which has emerged is that rockets and missiles used in conjunction with drones and a good command and control system dominate conventional battlefields.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>The Non-State Tool of Power</strong></h2>

<p>The Houthi movement to grab power in Yemen is decades old. When the Saudis intervened, Iran stepped in. It provided the Houthis with a liberal supply of rockets and missiles. Once Saudi Arabia and Iran got involved, the Yemen civil war acquired local, regional and international flavours. “The Missile War in Yemen” &nbsp;marks the rise in the use of rockets and ballistic missiles by nonstate actors/proxies. Houthis have fired innumerable rockets and missiles locally at Yemen’s Government and Saudi bases, population centres, and infrastructure to trigger a humanitarian crisis. Regionally, Houthis have used a combination of cruise missiles, unguided rockets, ballistic missiles and armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to attack Saudi Arabia. The most spectacular being the 2019 ARAMCO attacks of Abqaiq and Khurais oil refineries. The Houthi SAMs have downed many &nbsp;Saudi coalition force aircraft. Their rocket and missile arsenal has secured a power-sharing agreement in Yemen. The Houthis are exercising ‘sea denial’ from land by firing drones and anti-ship cruise missiles against international shipping, oil tankers and U.S. Navy warships in the Red Sea. The Houthi arsenal of long-range missiles and drones has complicated the prospect of restoring peace and stability in West Asia or normalising international trade. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The Iran-backed Hezbollah is the world’s most heavily armed non-state actor, described as ‘a militia trained like an army and equipped like a state’. Its rocket and missile arsenal is arrayed against Israel. Hezbollah’s missile inventory is mostly unguided surface-to-surface artillery rockets which lack precision or lethality. However, sheer numbers and volume make them potent weapons of terror. From the 2006 Lebanon war to now, they have expanded from 15,000 rockets and missiles to about 130,000-150,000. Hezbollah uses them as tools of terror and deterrence.&nbsp;<br />
Hezbollah’s ‘shoot and scoot’ tactics make detection, &nbsp;suppression and retaliation extremely difficult. It negates Israeli airpower. &nbsp;Hence, Hezbollah and Israeli troops are on equal footing in battle. It gives an advantage to Hezbollah which fights from behind a civilian façade like all non-state actors. Hezbollah and Houthi forces are collaborating to develop and employ rockets and missiles against Israel. Hezbollah is pushing to acquire longer-range precision-guided munitions. It has some rockets and missiles with a range of up to even 250 km. This is feasible due to the proliferation of missile technology by Iran.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Hamas was estimated to possess around 6000 rockets in a mix of short (15-20 km), medium ( 45 km) and long (100-200 km) range rockets. Hamas has adapted ideas from the Houthis and Hezbollah with Iranian assistance. Hamas specialises in making crude rockets using water pipes and filling them with any available explosive. Though erratic, they strike terror and make defiant political statements. Hamas uses civilian infrastructure and tunnels to camouflage and store these weapons. Hamas used to fire rockets into Israel from civilian areas of the Gaza Strip. It demonstrates their power to retaliate and even needle Israel to pursue their aims. These have also been used by Hamas to provoke Israel into indiscriminate retaliatory action and enmesh it in a humanitarian trap like they have done in the ongoing conflict.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Iran’s rockets and missile power were on display in its recent demonstrative strike on Israel. The strategic message in that strike is that sheer numbers and volumes can overwhelm air defences. Iran also proliferates rockets &amp; missiles to most of the non-state actors in West Asia. This enables Iran to project power and gain recognition of being an important player in the region. Iran is a case study in power projection far beyond borders without a strong navy or Air Force. Iran has offset this deficiency with its missile arsenal. Incidentally, this tactic is being used by China against the USA in the Western Pacific and against India in the Himalayas.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>The Rise of Rockets and Missiles</strong></h2>

<p>Rockets and missiles are the choice tools of power, coercion and terror for the state as well as non-state actors. Their enhanced ranges outpace conventional artillery or aircraft. When combined with drones, they expand and threaten every corner of the battlefield. They have heralded a new vista of non-contact warfare with positive escalatory controls. They are also cheaper and far less complicated than air forces to acquire and maintain. They are flexible in employment and light on training and infrastructure requirement. The array of rockets and missiles is vast and can be produced through crude methods as also sophisticated processes as per capability and requirement. Rockets and missiles can be used as weapons of terror and mass destruction interchangeably. Their visual impact is high with enhanced propaganda value. They are capable of precision over longer ranges, unlike guns. Their survivability against air defences is far higher than aircraft. Very importantly they can be employed in conventional and nuclear roles. Technology gives better options in producing and employing rockets and missiles en masse. Modern missiles with higher speeds, range, navigation, advanced materials, and endurance can be developed at speed through dual-use space technologies. The evolution of hypersonic missiles is a new chapter on the horizon. The use of rockets and missiles combined with drones and satellite systems backed by AI-driven command and control systems is deadly and set to grow in modern warfare.</p>

<h2><strong>The Indian Scene</strong></h2>

<p>While there is some clamour for a Rocket Force in India, we need to see it in perspective. India has the technology and wherewithal to produce any kind of rocket or missile. It has a reasonable inventory and adequate capability to accelerate production. What it lacks is the vision to put it all together. A major part of the inability is a lack of Recce Strike Integration thinking. Integration of surveillance and long-range firepower through a dedicated command and control system is sorely lacking. More importantly, a national strategy is lacking. ISRO and DRDO don’t exactly see eye to eye. Each Service has its own philosophy at variance with the other. The Army myopia reduced the number of rocket regiments in its long-term plans! As the ranges of engagement have increased, &nbsp;the Indian Artillery, which incidentally is the most modern Arm of the Army, has been stripped of integral deep surveillance and targeting capability! Believe it or not! Over time, long-range and aerial observation capability birthed in Artillery has been bifurcated from it by our ‘Dritharashtric’ planners. While the rest of the world is integrating firepower, surveillance and observation through repurposed apps in battle, we have systematically disintegrated our structure! &nbsp;No. We do not need a rocket force. We need integrated thinking and jointness. We sorely lack that at almost every level. &nbsp;</p>

<p><em><strong>(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)</strong></em> &nbsp;</p>


While drones have revolutionised the battlefield, it is the rise and proliferation of rockets and missiles that has impacted the battlefield and geostrategic statecraft.

While drones have revolutionised the battlefield, it is the rise and proliferation of rockets and missiles that has impacted the battlefield and geostrategic statecraft. Their widespread employment in conjunction with traditional artillery and aircraft is the new battlefield paradigm. The global inventory of rockets and missiles has expanded geometrically. Firepower has changed drastically as rockets and missiles have been employed as geopolitical tools of coercion, as conventional weapons in battle and as a tool of power by non-state actors. The Geopolitical Tools of Coercion North Korea pioneered provocative testing cum demonstrative firings of missiles and rockets as geopolitical tools of coercion since the late 70s. Initially, North Korean missiles had 50% failures. Current failure rates are only around 15%. As missile reliability improved, the North Korean threat has increased. In 2024, North Korea tested a cruise missile and IRBMs with hypersonic glide capability thrice. It keeps threatening the United States, South Korea and Japan through such firings. North Korea keeps firing a mix of unguided rockets, guided missiles and cruise missiles to keep the Eastern Pacific destabilised. It also conveys nuclear ambiguity through missile testing. It even fires conventional rockets mixed with tube artillery near inhabited areas to explicitly threaten and coerce South Korea. China has a vast array of modern missiles and rockets. The PLARF is the largest ground-based missile force on earth. China regularly carries out large-scale rocket and missile firing demonstratively along with naval and air exercises to threaten and coerce Taiwan. The larger message is to demonstrate China’s resolve and capability to annex Taiwan, fight and win wars and project power globally. China uses the PLARF to convey its credibility and capabilities of nuclear deterrence and counterattack, strengthen intermediate and long-range precision strike forces, and enhance strategic counter-balance capability. It is a potent threat to China’s neighbours and adversaries. It also gives the PLA the ability to influence local, regional, and global military conflicts. In simple terms, it is geopolitical coercion on a global scale. Rockets and Missiles in Conventional Battles The Armenia and Azerbaijan conflict indicated how conventional wars will be fought using rockets, missiles, drones, and artillery. While its highlight was the extensive use of drones to complement conventional artillery, it also featured the heavy use of missiles and rocket artillery. This aspect has largely gone unnoticed. Both sides deployed and employed a range of rockets and missiles. These were a combination of legacy systems of the USSR era as also modern systems procured from different sources individually. Azerbaijan invested more into its rocket and missile arsenal to include guided rockets and MLRS systems to engage targets up to 200 km in depth. The balance tipped in Azerbaijan’s favour due to better drones and rocket artillery and a willingness to use them in an innovative and integrated manner. The violence of firepower and its centrality in battle is reinforced in the Ukraine war. Employment of guns, rockets and missiles – guided, cruise and hypersonic has been unrestricted, imaginative and extensive. Major lessons have been drawn. Terrain, ground or weather might deter, inhibit or preclude the employment of Air, Infantry and Armour but nothing deters long-range Artillery. It overcomes terrain friction by striking deep. Despite static front lines, the daily situation changes due to orchestrated firepower strikes across the battlefield. Long-range vectors generate strategic as well as battlefield manoeuvre. They have been used to achieve political aims by deliberate firing on specified targets. Russia has postured with nuclear warheads and fired conventional warheads to achieve deterrence. It has done so through extensive use of air, hypersonic/cruise/guided missiles, rockets, and guns to deter NATO from getting directly involved. Ukraine uses rockets and cruise missiles imaginatively to deliver crucial blows to Russia. It has sunk a large part of the Russian Navy. Rockets and missiles have been used innovatively in executing ‘firepower ambushes’, undertaking ‘track and kill’ operations and carrying out ‘spoiling attacks’. A major factor which has emerged is that rockets and missiles used in conjunction with drones and a good command and control system dominate conventional battlefields. The Non-State Tool of Power The Houthi movement to grab power in Yemen is decades old. When the Saudis intervened, Iran stepped in. It provided the Houthis with a liberal supply of rockets and missiles. Once Saudi Arabia and Iran got involved, the Yemen civil war acquired local, regional and international flavours. “The Missile War in Yemen” marks the rise in the use of rockets and ballistic missiles by nonstate actors/proxies. Houthis have fired innumerable rockets and missiles locally at Yemen’s Government and Saudi bases, population centres, and infrastructure to trigger a humanitarian crisis. Regionally, Houthis have used a combination of cruise missiles, unguided rockets, ballistic missiles and armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to attack Saudi Arabia. The most spectacular being the 2019 ARAMCO attacks of Abqaiq and Khurais oil refineries. The Houthi SAMs have downed many Saudi coalition force aircraft. Their rocket and missile arsenal has secured a power-sharing agreement in Yemen. The Houthis are exercising ‘sea denial’ from land by firing drones and anti-ship cruise missiles against international shipping, oil tankers and U.S. Navy warships in the Red Sea. The Houthi arsenal of long-range missiles and drones has complicated the prospect of restoring peace and stability in West Asia or normalising international trade. The Iran-backed Hezbollah is the world’s most heavily armed non-state actor, described as ‘a militia trained like an army and equipped like a state’. Its rocket and missile arsenal is arrayed against Israel. Hezbollah’s missile inventory is mostly unguided surface-to-surface artillery rockets which lack precision or lethality. However, sheer numbers and volume make them potent weapons of terror. From the 2006 Lebanon war to now, they have expanded from 15,000 rockets and missiles to about 130,000-150,000. Hezbollah uses them as tools of terror and deterrence. Hezbollah’s ‘shoot and scoot’ tactics make detection, suppression and retaliation extremely difficult. It negates Israeli airpower. Hence, Hezbollah and Israeli troops are on equal footing in battle. It gives an advantage to Hezbollah which fights from behind a civilian façade like all non-state actors. Hezbollah and Houthi forces are collaborating to develop and employ rockets and missiles against Israel. Hezbollah is pushing to acquire longer-range precision-guided munitions. It has some rockets and missiles with a range of up to even 250 km. This is feasible due to the proliferation of missile technology by Iran. Hamas was estimated to possess around 6000 rockets in a mix of short (15-20 km), medium ( 45 km) and long (100-200 km) range rockets. Hamas has adapted ideas from the Houthis and Hezbollah with Iranian assistance. Hamas specialises in making crude rockets using water pipes and filling them with any available explosive. Though erratic, they strike terror and make defiant political statements. Hamas uses civilian infrastructure and tunnels to camouflage and store these weapons. Hamas used to fire rockets into Israel from civilian areas of the Gaza Strip. It demonstrates their power to retaliate and even needle Israel to pursue their aims. These have also been used by Hamas to provoke Israel into indiscriminate retaliatory action and enmesh it in a humanitarian trap like they have done in the ongoing conflict. Iran’s rockets and missile power were on display in its recent demonstrative strike on Israel. The strategic message in that strike is that sheer numbers and volumes can overwhelm air defences. Iran also proliferates rockets & missiles to most of the non-state actors in West Asia. This enables Iran to project power and gain recognition of being an important player in the region. Iran is a case study in power projection far beyond borders without a strong navy or Air Force. Iran has offset this deficiency with its missile arsenal. Incidentally, this tactic is being used by China against the USA in the Western Pacific and against India in the Himalayas. The Rise of Rockets and Missiles Rockets and missiles are the choice tools of power, coercion and terror for the state as well as non-state actors. Their enhanced ranges outpace conventional artillery or aircraft. When combined with drones, they expand and threaten every corner of the battlefield. They have heralded a new vista of non-contact warfare with positive escalatory controls. They are also cheaper and far less complicated than air forces to acquire and maintain. They are flexible in employment and light on training and infrastructure requirement. The array of rockets and missiles is vast and can be produced through crude methods as also sophisticated processes as per capability and requirement. Rockets and missiles can be used as weapons of terror and mass destruction interchangeably. Their visual impact is high with enhanced propaganda value. They are capable of precision over longer ranges, unlike guns. Their survivability against air defences is far higher than aircraft. Very importantly they can be employed in conventional and nuclear roles. Technology gives better options in producing and employing rockets and missiles en masse. Modern missiles with higher speeds, range, navigation, advanced materials, and endurance can be developed at speed through dual-use space technologies. The evolution of hypersonic missiles is a new chapter on the horizon. The use of rockets and missiles combined with drones and satellite systems backed by AI-driven command and control systems is deadly and set to grow in modern warfare. The Indian Scene While there is some clamour for a Rocket Force in India, we need to see it in perspective. India has the technology and wherewithal to produce any kind of rocket or missile. It has a reasonable inventory and adequate capability to accelerate production. What it lacks is the vision to put it all together. A major part of the inability is a lack of Recce Strike Integration thinking. Integration of surveillance and long-range firepower through a dedicated command and control system is sorely lacking. More importantly, a national strategy is lacking. ISRO and DRDO don’t exactly see eye to eye. Each Service has its own philosophy at variance with the other. The Army myopia reduced the number of rocket regiments in its long-term plans! As the ranges of engagement have increased, the Indian Artillery, which incidentally is the most modern Arm of the Army, has been stripped of integral deep surveillance and targeting capability! Believe it or not! Over time, long-range and aerial observation capability birthed in Artillery has been bifurcated from it by our ‘Dritharashtric’ planners. While the rest of the world is integrating firepower, surveillance and observation through repurposed apps in battle, we have systematically disintegrated our structure! No. We do not need a rocket force. We need integrated thinking and jointness. We sorely lack that at almost every level. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Rise of rockets and missiles in conflicts

Russian missiles strike Ukrainian railways transporting U.S. weapons U.S. Universities erupt in protests demanding Biden to stop the violence in Gaza Myanmar's Junta recaptures a key town along the border with Thailand Mohammed Saleh gets you an in-depth analysis of the world's biggest warzones of the week in #WorldAtWar

Russian missiles strike Ukrainian railways transporting US weapons | World at War

Watch the top headlines of the hour: - US down Houthi anti-ship missile - Venice locals protest entry fee - Spain's opposition slams PM Sanchez - Bangladesh repatriates Myanmar troops

US down Houthi anti-ship missile | Venice locals protest entry fee

Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight. Watch in for more details!

Russia-Ukraine war | US secretly shipped 'ATACMS' missile to Kyiv: Report

Does Iran have a cache of secret weapons? Reports in Iranian media say Tehran has kept aside its most powerful missiles for an all-out war with Israel, U.S. On April 13, Iran reportedly used mostly older weapons in order to not reveal its real fire power to Israel, U.S.

Iran vs Israel: Tehran's cache of deadly secret missiles

<p>According to a report, the missile employed in the suspected Israeli strike on a military facility near Isfahan in Iran was identified as 'Rampage'. The Rampage missile is an advanced air-to-surface missile developed by Israel Aerospace Industries and Israeli Military Industries Systems. Designed to be highly precise and versatile, the Rampage is capable of striking a variety of targets with pinpoint accuracy. It is one of the most powerful weapons in modern warfare.</p>

<p>The identification of the purported missile was based on photographic evidence and the extent of damage inflicted during the attack, the report from a Hebrew media outlet Kan&nbsp;pointed out.</p>

<p>Measuring 4.7 metres&nbsp;(15 feet) in length, Rampage boasts supersonic speed. To reduce the likelihood of detection and interception by enemy air defences, the Rampage has stealthiness as one of its important features that enables it to penetrate defended airspace and strike targets with reduced risk of detection. Rampage was unveiled in 2018 and weighs over half a tonne. It is specifically engineered to penetrate and eliminate fortified structures such as bunkers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/idf-jets-hit-hezbollah-targets-in-southern-lebanon-overnight-713558">IDF jets hit Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon overnight</a></p>

<p>Iran has downplayed the incident claiming only the involvement of three small drones. Tehran refuted claims of any missile strikes by the Jewish nation and the Iranian foreign minister even went on to say that they were not drones but toys our children play with.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-to-summon-envoys-for-voting-in-favour-of-palestines-full-un-membership-713565">Israel to summon envoys for voting in favour of Palestine's full UN membership</a></p>

<p>An earlier report said that Israel used the missile&nbsp;in alleged strike on Iranian air defences near the Natanz nuclear site. However, Iranian news agencies said that no nuclear site was hit in the strike.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-hamas-war-netanyahu-gantz-slam-us-plan-to-sanction-idf-unit-713571">Israel-Hamas war: Netanyahu, Gantz slam US plan to sanction IDF unit</a></strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-hamas-war-netanyahu-gantz-slam-us-plan-to-sanction-idf-unit-713571/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>The report said that these actions taken by Israel were intended to deter Iran from future direct assaults on Israel, the country that has been involved in a war with Hamas in Gaza for over six months. Reports also suggested that Israel had plans for a broader strike on Iran however the war cabinet later dropped the idea because of the small damage the Iranian strikes incurred on Israel.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The situation between Iran and Israel escalated earlier when Israel hit the Iranian consulate in the city of Damascus in Syria on April 1. The muted response reported post-Israeli strikes on Isfahan, experts say, could be a sign of de-escalation from both the parties.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


According to a report, the missile employed in the suspected Israeli strike on a military facility near Isfahan in Iran was identified as 'Rampage'. The Rampage missile is an advanced air-to-surface missile developed by Israel Aerospace Industries and Israeli Military Industries Systems.

According to a report, the missile employed in the suspected Israeli strike on a military facility near Isfahan in Iran was identified as 'Rampage'. The Rampage missile is an advanced air-to-surface missile developed by Israel Aerospace Industries and Israeli Military Industries Systems. Designed to be highly precise and versatile, the Rampage is capable of striking a variety of targets with pinpoint accuracy. It is one of the most powerful weapons in modern warfare. The identification of the purported missile was based on photographic evidence and the extent of damage inflicted during the attack, the report from a Hebrew media outlet Kan pointed out. Measuring 4.7 metres (15 feet) in length, Rampage boasts supersonic speed. To reduce the likelihood of detection and interception by enemy air defences, the Rampage has stealthiness as one of its important features that enables it to penetrate defended airspace and strike targets with reduced risk of detection. Rampage was unveiled in 2018 and weighs over half a tonne. It is specifically engineered to penetrate and eliminate fortified structures such as bunkers. Also Read | IDF jets hit Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon overnight Iran has downplayed the incident claiming only the involvement of three small drones. Tehran refuted claims of any missile strikes by the Jewish nation and the Iranian foreign minister even went on to say that they were not drones but toys our children play with. Also Read | Israel to summon envoys for voting in favour of Palestine's full UN membership An earlier report said that Israel used the missile in alleged strike on Iranian air defences near the Natanz nuclear site. However, Iranian news agencies said that no nuclear site was hit in the strike. Watch | Israel-Hamas war: Netanyahu, Gantz slam US plan to sanction IDF unit × The report said that these actions taken by Israel were intended to deter Iran from future direct assaults on Israel, the country that has been involved in a war with Hamas in Gaza for over six months. Reports also suggested that Israel had plans for a broader strike on Iran however the war cabinet later dropped the idea because of the small damage the Iranian strikes incurred on Israel. The situation between Iran and Israel escalated earlier when Israel hit the Iranian consulate in the city of Damascus in Syria on April 1. The muted response reported post-Israeli strikes on Isfahan, experts say, could be a sign of de-escalation from both the parties. (With inputs from agencies)

Israel used air-to-surface missile ‘Rampage’ in alleged attack on Iran: Report

Amid rising geopolitical tensions in the Indo Pacific several Nations have assessed that the risk of conflict is indeed increasing. Watch in for more details!

Indo-Pacific Tensions: Asian countries boosting long-range strike capabilities

As per the Carnegie endowment for international peace, the Indo-Pacific region is on the cusp of a new missile age driven by perceptions of rising insecurity. Collins Chong Yew Keat, foreign affairs, strategy and security expert from Kuala Lumpur, joins us to discuss.

Increased missile proliferation in Indo-Pacific

Iranian news outlet ISNA claims that Iran has unveiled nine different types of missiles that are long enough to reach Israeli territory. Watch to know more.

Iran's '9 tyres of missiles' warning, speed of missiles range from Mach 5 to 14

The South Korean military officials stated that North Korea fired a suspected intermediate range ballistic missile in the early hours of Tuesday. Watch in for more details!

North Korea launches intermediate-range missile, Japan PM Kishida condemns launch

China has one of the largest and most diverse missile arsenal in the world and that arsenal is growing. Watch in for more details!

Beijing's missile force and burgeoning arms race in Asia

missiles

Missiles, News on Missiles, stories on Missiles, articles on Missiles, Missiles stories at Wion, Missiles news, Missiles latest news