Iran Claims One of Its Most Advanced Sejjil Ballistic Missiles Used in New Strike Wave on Israel.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on 16 March 2026 that the Sejil medium-range ballistic missile was used in a new wave of strikes targeting Israeli military infrastructure. The claim signals a potential escalation in missile capability as the Iran- Israel conflict enters its third week.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced on 16 March 2026 that Sejil ballistic missiles were used during a new wave of strikes against Israeli military infrastructure, including air command centers, defense industrial facilities, and troop concentrations. Iranian state media described the launch as part of the fifty- fourth wave of attacks in an ongoing campaign against Israeli targets. The announcement comes as Israeli forces continue conducting airstrikes on military installations in western Iran, extending a cycle of retaliation that began in late February. If confirmed, the use of the solid-fueled Sejil missile would mark one of the most advanced ballistic systems employed by Iran during the current confrontation.
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The Sejil ballistic missile represents one of the most advanced systems in Iran’s strategic missile inventory (Picture source: Tasnim News)

According to the IRGC, the Sejil missile was launched alongside several other ballistic missile systems already deployed in Iran’s arsenal, including the Khorramshahr, Kheibar Shekan, Qadr and, Emad missiles. Iranian officials claim the combined strikes targeted installations linked to Israeli air operations as well as defense industry infrastructure.

The Sejil ballistic missile represents one of the most advanced systems in Iran’s strategic missile inventory. Developed and manufactured domestically by the Aerospace Industries Organisation under Iran’s Ministry of Defence, the Sejil is a two-stage solid fuel surface-to -surface ballistic missile designed to provide Tehran with a rapid reaction long-range strike capability. Unlike older Iranian missiles such as the Shahab series, which rely on liquid fuel propulsion, the Sejil uses solid propellant in both stages. This configuration enables much faster launch preparation and significantly reduces the time the missile remains exposed during fueling procedures.

Solid fuel propulsion also allows the missile to remain stored fully fueled, enabling launch on short notice from mobile platforms. This characteristic complicates detection by surveillance assets and limits opportunities for preemptive strikes against launch units. From an operational perspective, the transition from liquid-fueled systems to solid-fuel missiles reflects a broader effort by Iran to improve the survivability and responsiveness of its ballistic missile force.

Open source assessments estimate the operational range of the Sejil between approximately 2,000 and 2,500 kilometers. From Iranian territory, this range places much of the Middle East within reach, including Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and several U.S. military bases deployed across the region. Such coverage allows Iran to hold a wide set of strategic targets at risk without relying on forward deployment or allied territory.

Technically, the missile is believed to measure around 18 meters in length and has a launch weight estimated at approximately 23.6 metric tons. Its payload capacity is assessed at roughly 700 kilograms. Various warhead configurations are discussed in open literature, including conventional high explosive, fragmentation or penetrator types designed to strike fortified structures and hardened facilities. More recent variants of the missile are believed to incorporate improved inertial navigation systems combined with jet vane control during the propulsion phase, allowing better trajectory stability and improved targeting accuracy against high value installations.

From a tactical standpoint, the Sejil missile is typically deployed from road mobile transporter erector launcher platforms. These mobile launchers allow missile units to disperse across large geographic areas and frequently change firing positions. Such mobility complicates identification by satellite reconnaissance or airborne surveillance and increases the survivability of launch assets during conflict. Combined with solid fuel propulsion, this mobility allows Iran to shorten the interval between launch authorization and missile firing.

Ballistic trajectories nevertheless expose the missile to interception by advanced missile defense systems. Israel operates a layered defensive architecture designed to counter threats at multiple altitudes, including the Arrow missile defense system intended to intercept long range ballistic missiles during exo atmospheric or high altitude phases of flight. However, simultaneous launches involving different missile types can complicate defensive planning and place sustained pressure on interceptor inventories.

Beyond its operational role, the introduction of the Sejil missile into the current conflict carries a strategic signaling dimension. Iranian officials have long presented the system as evidence of the country’s progress in indigenous missile engineering and solid fuel propulsion technologies. Employing the missile in active combat demonstrates Tehran’s willingness to deploy more capable systems while observing the effectiveness of Israeli and allied missile defense architectures under combat conditions.

A missile capable of reaching more than two thousand kilometers inevitably attracts the attention of regional and European defense planners monitoring the evolution of Iran’s long range strike capabilities. Iranian authorities state that Sejil missiles were used in the latest wave of strikes, yet independent confirmation remains limited, as no publicly verified debris or technical evidence has so far confirmed the presence of this specific missile on the battlefield. It also remains unclear whether any such launches were intercepted by Israeli or U.S. missile defense systems before impact. These uncertainties illustrate the persistent information gaps that accompany missile exchanges in the region, where operational claims, interception reports, and physical evidence often emerge at different speeds.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience studying conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests lie in security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.