Iran showcased a newly developed ballistic missile on Sunday, just days after Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu issued warnings about retaliating against missile attacks from the Houthis and their Iranian backers.
State-run Iranian media announced that the missile, dubbed the Qassem Basiar, is capable of reaching distances over 1,200 kilometers. Iranian officials touted the launch as part of what they called the country’s most recent achievements in defense technology.
Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh praised the missile’s capabilities, stating, “The Qassem Basiar missile is resistant to electronic warfare and can bypass anti-ballistic missile systems.”
He went on to note, “It does not use GPS, has high maneuverability, and delivers precise strikes.”
Nasirzadeh issued a stern warning, saying, “If we are attacked and war is imposed on us, we will respond forcefully and strike the enemy’s bases and interests.” He added, “We have no hostility toward neighboring countries, but American bases are targets for us if we are attacked.”
Earlier in the day, Israel’s military confirmed that a missile fired from Yemen by the Iranian-supported Houthi group was picked up by defense systems shortly after launch. In response, the U.S. and Israel deployed interceptor missiles, including Israel’s Arrow 3. Both interceptors, however, failed to neutralize the incoming threat.
Sources within the IDF told The Jerusalem Post that the failed interception of the missile that hit near Ben-Gurion Airport was the result of a technical malfunction.
They clarified that the failure wasn’t linked to human mistakes or to any advanced weaponry allegedly used by the Houthis.
Despite this incident, the IDF maintained that the Israel Air Force has successfully shot down dozens of missiles from the Houthis since the war began, boasting an interception rate of over 95%.

{Matzav.com}