March 16, 2026 | 11:40 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran continues to intensify. On Sunday, Tehran deployed one of its most formidable ground weapons, the Sejjil missile, marking the first operational use of this sophisticated hardware since hostilities erupted on February 28.
The Sejjil-2 is an ultra-heavy, long-range ballistic missile designed to strike targets within minutes. Propelled by solid fuel, the weapon is also known by the names Sajjil, Ashoura, or Ashura.
According to the Hindustan Times, here are five essential facts about the Sejjil missile:
1. The Sejjil-2 is a two-stage, solid-fueled medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) with an estimated range of 2,000 kilometers and a payload capacity of approximately 700 kilograms.
2. Data from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) indicates the missile measures 18 meters in length and 1.25 meters in diameter, with a total weight of around 23,600 kilograms.
3. Its primary tactical advantage lies in its solid-fuel propellant, which allows for significantly faster preparation and launch times compared to the older liquid-fueled missiles like the Shahab series.
4. CSIS reports that the missile’s maiden test occurred in 2008, covering roughly 800 kilometers, while a subsequent test in May 2009 focused on evaluating its upgraded guidance and navigation systems.
5. Four additional flight tests followed, with the sixth trial reportedly reaching a distance of 1,900 kilometers over the Indian Ocean.
The war in Iran has entered its 17th day with no immediate signs of de-escalation. The conflict began on February 28 following a joint U.S.-Israeli offensive on Iran, which spiraled further after the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
In retaliation, Iran has targeted Israel and U.S. military installations across the Gulf states. Amid the chaos, rumors emerged claiming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been killed in an Iranian strike; however, the Israeli leader later refuted these claims by posting a video on his X account showing him alive and drinking coffee.
Current reports estimate that over 2,000 people have been killed in the conflict so far. The war has also sent shockwaves through the global economy, particularly the energy sector, as Iran’s blockade of oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz forces nations to scramble for alternative supply routes.
Read: Downing Street: Starmer, Trump Discuss Freedom of Navigation in Strait of Hormuz
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