Iran fired its most powerful missile at Tel Aviv, and the reason it’s so dangerous isn’t the impact; it’s what happens 7 kilometers before it lands

Iran launched its most powerful missile, the Khorramshahr-4, at Tel Aviv in a strike that hit late on March 5. Videos and images from residents showed fires and damage in at least three areas in and around the city. This is a major escalation in the ongoing conflict between Iran and the US-Israeli coalition.

According to Turkiye Today, observers quickly spotted signs of submunition impacts across central Israel, which pointed clearly to the use of the Khorramshahr-4. This missile carries a cluster warhead, meaning it breaks apart and scatters multiple smaller explosives over a wide area. The scattered damage pattern seen after the strike was a clear sign of how this weapon works.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed the strike, saying the missiles were part of the 19th wave of their “True Promise Operation.” They claimed the missiles, carrying 1,000-kilogram warheads, targeted central Tel Aviv, Ben Gurion Airport, and what they called the 27th Airbase of the Israeli Air Force. 

The Khorramshahr-4’s cluster warhead design makes it one of the hardest missiles in the world to defend against

Israel’s military disputed most of these claims, saying their air defenses intercepted all Iranian ballistic missiles launched overnight, though they confirmed one missile fired in the morning hit an open area in a central town. The IDF also noted there is no 27th Squadron in the Israeli Air Force, and believe Iran was referring to Airbase 27, also known as Lod Airbase, which was permanently closed in 2010.

The Khorramshahr-4, also known as Kheibar, is the most powerful ballistic missile Iran has confirmed in its arsenal. It first appeared in May 2023, has a reported range of about 2,000 kilometers, measures 13 meters long, and carries a 1,500-kilogram warhead. Iranian officials claim it can reach Mach 16 outside the atmosphere and Mach 8 within it. 

The escalating tensions have also had ripple effects on US politics, with Vice President Vance stepping back from key diplomatic engagements tied directly to the war in Iran. What makes it especially dangerous is its cluster munition system. The IDF has previously determined that the warhead opens at an altitude of roughly 7 kilometers during descent, releasing around 20 submunitions.