Iran debuts multi-warhead Kheibar Shekan 3 in latest strikes on Israel
Israeli media reported at least 86 injuries resulting from the Iranian strikes, which came hours after US strikes targeted Iran's nuclear facilities
Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) announced on 22 June that it had launched its third-generation, multi-warhead Kheibar Shekan ballistic missile against Israel for the first time since Israel's US-backed assault began.
According to the IRGC, the latest round of missile attacks involved 40 solid-and liquid-fuel ballistic missiles, including the third-generation Kheibar Shekan ("Castle Buster") missiles. These advanced missiles are equipped with multiple maneuverable and highly explosive warheads, capable of being guided up to the moment of impact for enhanced accuracy and destructive effect.
"In this operation, for the first time, the IRGC Aerospace Force deployed the third-generation Kheibar Shekan multi-warhead ballistic missile, employing new and surprising tactics to achieve greater precision, destructive power, and effectiveness," read an IRGC statement.
The third-generation Kheibar Shekan is a solid-fueled, medium-range ballistic missile developed by Iran’s IRGC Aerospace Force, with an estimated range of 1,450 to 1,500 kilometers. This version introduces the use of multiple warheads, either as cluster munitions or independently targetable reentry vehicles, marking a first for Iran’s missile arsenal. Designed for high precision, the missile features terminal-phase guidance, allowing it to maneuver during descent to evade interception. Its ability to shift trajectory mid-flight makes it especially difficult to intercept with systems like Israel’s Arrow and David’s Sling. It also carries a high-explosive payload capable of striking hardened or strategic infrastructure,
Targets of Iran's latest barrage reportedly included Ben Gurion International Airport, Israel's biological research center, and replacement command-and-control centers. Notably, the IRGC said that Israeli warning sirens only activated after the missiles had already struck their targets, and that Iran's main operational capabilities have yet to be deployed.
Israeli media reported at least 86 injuries resulting from the Iranian strikes. Israel has ramped up military censorship on strategic sites, preventing the extent of Iran's operations from emerging.
The IRGC further emphasized that the full extent of Iran's military capabilities had not yet been deployed, warning of greater potential escalation.
The twentieth wave of Iran's operation, part of Operation True Promise 3, came in response to Israel's ongoing attacks across the Islamic Republic.
Israel launched its assault, dubbed Operation ‘Lion’s Courage,' or ‘Rising Lion,’ on 13 June, and has killed over 400 Iranians to date, including civilians, nuclear scientists, and senior commanders.
The Iranian strikes came just hours after the US launched strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the US action, thanking President Donald Trump for delivering "peace through strength."