{"id":7119,"date":"2026-03-16T10:20:32","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T10:20:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jubaglobal.com\/?p=7119"},"modified":"2026-03-16T10:20:33","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T10:20:33","slug":"irans-debut-of-sejjil-missile-marks-major-escalation-in-us-israel-war-as-retaliation-hits-israeli-cities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/irans-debut-of-sejjil-missile-marks-major-escalation-in-us-israel-war-as-retaliation-hits-israeli-cities\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran\u2019s Debut of Sejjil Missile Marks Major Escalation in US-Israel War as Retaliation Hits Israeli Cities"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Juba Global News Network | JubaGlobal.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

March 16, 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the most significant display of its advanced missile capabilities since the outbreak of the US-Israel-Iran war on February 28, Iran launched its first confirmed combat deployment of the Sejjil<\/strong> ballistic missile overnight into March 15-16. The solid-fuel, two-stage weapon\u2014long regarded by Western intelligence as one of Tehran\u2019s most threatening systems\u2014struck targets in central Israel, including areas near Tel Aviv, during the country\u2019s 54th wave of retaliatory missile barrages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Sejjil\u2019s entry into the conflict comes directly on the heels of massive US precision strikes on March 13-14 that neutralized over 90 military targets on Kharg Island<\/strong>, Iran\u2019s primary oil export terminal handling roughly 90% of its crude shipments. While US Central Command (CENTCOM) emphasized that oil loading terminals, storage tanks, and processing facilities were deliberately spared to avoid immediate economic catastrophe, President Donald Trump escalated rhetoric by warning that further interference with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz<\/strong> could prompt strikes on the export infrastructure itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe could do it just for fun if they keep playing games,\u201d Trump stated during White House remarks on March 14-15, while urging NATO allies and regional partners to deploy warships for escort operations through the vital chokepoint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sejjil: The \u201cDancing Missile\u201d Enters the Fray<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Sejjil, often nicknamed the \u201cdancing missile\u201d for its evasive maneuvers during terminal flight, represents a leap forward in Iran\u2019s ballistic arsenal. Unlike many of Iran\u2019s older liquid-fuel missiles, the Sejjil uses solid propellant, allowing for rapid launch with minimal preparation time\u2014reducing detectability and complicating preemptive strikes. Armed with a 1.5-ton warhead and a range exceeding 2,000 km, it can reportedly reach Tel Aviv in approximately seven minutes, posing severe challenges to Israel\u2019s multilayered air defense systems (including Arrow-3, David\u2019s Sling, and Iron Dome).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) statements confirmed the missile\u2019s use in the latest wave, claiming \u201cprecise strikes\u201d on strategic Israeli military sites. Footage released by Iranian state media showed bright launch plumes from mobile transporter-erector-launchers (TELs) in western Iran, followed by impact reports in Israel. Israeli authorities acknowledged incoming barrages triggering widespread shelter alerts, with reports of property damage, fires, and minor injuries in residential areas near military installations. No major casualties were immediately confirmed, though emergency services reported structural collapses and vehicle fires in central districts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The debut comes amid claims that Israel is running critically low on missile interceptors after weeks of sustained Iranian and Hezbollah attacks. While Israeli officials dismissed such reports as disinformation, the Sejjil\u2019s maneuverability is designed to overwhelm defenses through saturation and decoy tactics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Retaliation Chain: From Kharg to Tel Aviv and Beyond<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Kharg operation\u2014codenamed part of Operation Epic Fury<\/strong>\u2014targeted naval mine depots, missile bunkers, radar installations (including the Matla ul Fajr early-warning system), air defense batteries, and the island\u2019s military airport. Declassified CENTCOM footage showed guided munitions producing massive secondary explosions consistent with destroyed munitions stockpiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iran condemned the strikes as \u201ceconomic terrorism\u201d and claimed collateral damage to a civilian desalination plant serving island residents (a charge denied by US officials). In immediate response, Tehran unleashed intensified barrages, including the Sejjil debut, alongside continued Hezbollah rocket fire from Lebanon and drone swarms targeting Gulf states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overnight incidents included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022  Fires near Dubai International Airport<\/strong> from Iranian drones, prompting emergency responses in the UAE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022  Missile strikes damaging buildings and vehicles in central Israel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022  Proxy militia attacks on US interests, including a claimed strike on the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group (denied by CENTCOM with released imagery showing the carrier operating normally).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strait of Hormuz: Global Energy Chokepoint in Crisis<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively paralyzed since early March. Over 150 vessels are anchored or rerouted, insurance premiums have quadrupled, and major oil traders report near-total avoidance of the Gulf. Iran has deployed fewer than 10 mines so far despite possessing thousands, but the threat alone has halted most tanker traffic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brent crude futures surged toward $105 per barrel following the Kharg strikes and Trump\u2019s threats, with prices already up over 40% since the war began. Analysts warn that a full export shutdown from Kharg could remove 1.5-2 million barrels per day from global markets, pushing prices potentially into triple digits for sustained periods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The US has initiated a multinational naval coalition to clear mines and escort tankers, with Trump warning that countries failing to assist would be \u201cremembered\u201d unfavorably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Broader War Landscape: Day 17 and Mounting Toll<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the conflict enters its 17th day, joint US-Israeli operations claim to have degraded 80-85% of Iran\u2019s ballistic missile production capacity and air defense network. Heavy strikes continued on Iranian cities, including massive smoke plumes over Hamadan<\/strong> from targeted sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Civilian suffering escalates on all sides:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022  Iranian reports cite over 42,000 damaged structures (homes, schools, hospitals) and hundreds killed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022  In Israel, repeated missile and rocket attacks have killed dozens and injured thousands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022  Gulf allies face persistent drone threats, with black smoke reported near key infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diplomatic efforts remain stalled. Tehran rejects negotiations unless attacks cease and reparations are paid, while Trump insists on \u201ctotal and decisive\u201d victory, including elimination of Iran\u2019s nuclear and missile threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the Sejjil now proven in combat, the war\u2019s trajectory hinges on whether Iran\u2019s remaining arsenal and proxies can impose sufficient costs to force de-escalation\u2014or if sustained US-led pressure on the Strait compels Tehran to back down. Global markets, energy security, and regional stability hang in the balance as the crisis deepens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Juba Global News Network provides continuous coverage of this unfolding geopolitical storm.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Juba Global News Network | JubaGlobal.com March 16, 2026 In the most significant display…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1199,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[830,643,1,784,806],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7119","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-breaking-news","category-more-articles","category-news","category-northamerica","category-united-states"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7119","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1199"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7119"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7119\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7121,"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7119\/revisions\/7121"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7119"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7119"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7119"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}