From secrecy to revelation: Iraq's weaponry against the US
An Iraqi resistance group has disclosed the weapons it uses to attack US targets. The newly revealed Al-Aqsa 1 is a missile that bears resemblance to the Iranian armed forces' Fateh-360 structure. This weapon allows attacks on targets that are roughly 75 miles away. Here's what we know about this weapon so far.
Nov 6, 2023 | updated: 11:30 AM EST, November 7, 2023
In early November, the Department of Defense spokesperson, Pat Ryder, warned that Americans should anticipate an escalation of conflict in the Middle East against the US Army. Concurrently, US services during the ongoing war hinted at the possible acquisition of modern energy weapons for defense, which could be used by Americans to intercept incoming missiles.
Conversely, pro-Iranian militias are consistently increasing their troops, as made evident by the unveiling of the new Al-Aqsa 1 missile. According to the Al-Mayadeen portal, the Islamic Resistance Movement in Iraq has already begun using this ballistic missile against American units. This marks the first reporting of the Al-Aqsa 1 in action.
The Rocket Being Used to Attack US Targets
The exact specifications of the missile, as detailed by the Iraqi resistance group, remain undisclosed. However, Al-Mayadeen has noted a striking resemblance between the new missile and the aforementioned Fateh-360. As indicated by the various "fins" situated at the front and back of the structure, Al-Aqsa 1 is a precision-guided weapon.
The Fateh-360, designed similarly to Al-Aqsa 1, is essentially a short-range ballistic missile that utilizes satellite guidance. Introduced to the Iranian army in 2020, one of its key features is a total weight of less than 1763 lbs, with the warhead contributing approximately 331 lbs to this weight.
The resemblance between Al-Aqsa 1 and the Iranian missile extends to their dimensions as well. The original Fateh is about 17 feet long and has a diameter of slightly more than 1 foot. Capable of hitting targets up to roughly 75 miles from its launch site, it can attain speeds of up to Mach 4 upon impact. While it's hard to ascertain the type of navigation system Al-Aqsa 1 employs, it's known that its Iranian counterpart utilizes a GNSS and GLONASS system, with inertial navigation as supplementary support.
