The missile successfully penetrated much-hyped Israeli air defenses and delivered a powerful message to the regime and its Western backers, the IRGC said.

The IRGC described the latest phase of the operation as a “turning point,” saying the deployment of first-generation Fattah missiles marked “the beginning of the end” for Israel’s “mythical” missile defense systems.

It congratulated the commanders and fighters of the IRGC aerospace force for the success of a “glorious and pride-inducing” mission.

“The powerful and highly maneuverable Fattah missiles repeatedly shook the shelters of the cowardly Zionists tonight, sending a clear message of Iran’s strength to Tel Aviv’s warmongering ally, which continues to dwell in delusions and false assumptions,” it added.

The statement emphasized that the missile barrage proved Iran now holds complete dominance over the skies of the occupied territories and that Israeli settlers remain utterly defenseless against the Islamic Republic’s precision strikes.

Fattah (meaning “the opener”) is a precision-guided two-stage solid-fueled missile with a range of 1,400 km and a terminal speed of Mach 13 to 15, unveiled in June 2023.

This speed, along with movable nozzles that allow the missile to maneuver in all directions both in and out of the Earth’s atmosphere, makes it immune to interception by all existing anti-missile systems, according to military experts.

Former IRGC aerospace commander Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh described the missile as a “giant leap” at its unveiling ceremony in 2023.

Before Iran, only three countries had mastered the technology to manufacture operational hypersonic missiles, namely Russia, China and India. Their models differ in launch platforms, range, payload, and hypersonic technology itself.

The demonstration took place near the residence of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei.

Participants carried Iranian flags and posters of Ayatollah Khamenei while chanting slogans against Israel and the US.

Despite threats from US President Donald Trump to “evacuate Tehran”, many families, including those with children, joined the rally.

Police and members of the armed forces were also present at the demonstration.

Regional tensions have escalated since Friday, when Israel launched airstrikes on multiple sites across Iran, including military and nuclear facilities, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory strikes.

Israeli authorities said at least 24 people have been killed and hundreds injured since then in Iranian missile attacks.

Iran said at least 224 people have been killed and more than 1,800 wounded in the Israeli assault.

Major General Sayyid Abdolrahim Mousavi, the newly-elected Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, in a televised message, said the operations carried out so far since Friday have served as a deterrent warning, and the actual punitive operations will be executed soon.

He said the Zionist regime, in an act of aggression disguised as military goals, has in recent days attacked the people of Iran, including women, children and the elderly.

He said the regime has disregarded all recognized international laws, and after killing some 300 journalists in Gaza and Lebanon, has now launched a savage assault on the media professionals of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) to silence the voice of truth.

“The great nation of Iran, as history shows, has never bowed to any aggression, and, while standing firm against this savage act, will make the Zionist regime pay for its crimes, God willing,” he declared.

“By God’s power, the martyrdom of our dear compatriots, scientists and commanders of the armed forces, will only strengthen our resolve to carry out a punishing reprisal.”

Major General Mousavi further stated that so far, since Friday, the IRGC aerospace force and the air-defense Headquarters, are at the front line with support from the Army, the IRGC, the Law-Enforcement Command and the Ministry of Defense, and together they have “inflicted heavy blows on the enemy by striking sensitive and vital targets.”

However, he added that the operations conducted so far have only been a warning for deterrence, the punitive operations will be carried out shortly.

He also warned the settlers of the occupied territories, especially Tel Aviv and Haifa, to immediately leave these areas to save their lives and “not sacrifice themselves to Netanyahu’s animalistic desires.”

“Let the free peoples of the world rest assured: the great nation of Iran, led by its armed forces, will avenge the blood of the martyrs—God willing, by His power,” he declared.

“President Erdogan said that Turkey has been conducting intensive diplomatic contacts since the Israeli attack on Iran and will continue its efforts to end the spiral of violence that these attacks started,” the administration of the Turkish leader said in a statement following the telephone call.

“He noted that Netanyahu has again shown that he is the biggest threat to the security of the region.”

Erdogan also stressed that Israel’s attack on Iran had sidelined the humanitarian crisis and genocide in Gaza, saying that “Syria should not be allowed to be involved in these events.”