Iran’s Debut of Sejjil Missile Marks Major Escalation in US-Israel War as Retaliation Hits Israeli Cities
By Juba Global News Network | JubaGlobal.com
March 16, 2026
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 ballistic missile overnight into March 15-16. The solid-fuel, two-stage weapon—long regarded by Western intelligence as one of Tehran’s most threatening systems—struck targets in central Israel, including areas near Tel Aviv, during the country’s 54th wave of retaliatory missile barrages.
The Sejjil’s 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, Iran’s 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 could prompt strikes on the export infrastructure itself.
“We could do it just for fun if they keep playing games,” 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.
Sejjil: The “Dancing Missile” Enters the Fray
The Sejjil, often nicknamed the “dancing missile” for its evasive maneuvers during terminal flight, represents a leap forward in Iran’s ballistic arsenal. Unlike many of Iran’s older liquid-fuel missiles, the Sejjil uses solid propellant, allowing for rapid launch with minimal preparation time—reducing 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’s multilayered air defense systems (including Arrow-3, David’s Sling, and Iron Dome).
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) statements confirmed the missile’s use in the latest wave, claiming “precise strikes” 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.
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’s maneuverability is designed to overwhelm defenses through saturation and decoy tactics.
Retaliation Chain: From Kharg to Tel Aviv and Beyond
The Kharg operation—codenamed part of Operation Epic Fury—targeted naval mine depots, missile bunkers, radar installations (including the Matla ul Fajr early-warning system), air defense batteries, and the island’s military airport. Declassified CENTCOM footage showed guided munitions producing massive secondary explosions consistent with destroyed munitions stockpiles.
Iran condemned the strikes as “economic terrorism” 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.
Overnight incidents included:
• Fires near Dubai International Airport from Iranian drones, prompting emergency responses in the UAE.
• Missile strikes damaging buildings and vehicles in central Israel.
• 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).
Strait of Hormuz: Global Energy Chokepoint in Crisis
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.
Brent crude futures surged toward $105 per barrel following the Kharg strikes and Trump’s 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.
The US has initiated a multinational naval coalition to clear mines and escort tankers, with Trump warning that countries failing to assist would be “remembered” unfavorably.
Broader War Landscape: Day 17 and Mounting Toll
As the conflict enters its 17th day, joint US-Israeli operations claim to have degraded 80-85% of Iran’s ballistic missile production capacity and air defense network. Heavy strikes continued on Iranian cities, including massive smoke plumes over Hamadan from targeted sites.
Civilian suffering escalates on all sides:
• Iranian reports cite over 42,000 damaged structures (homes, schools, hospitals) and hundreds killed.
• In Israel, repeated missile and rocket attacks have killed dozens and injured thousands.
• Gulf allies face persistent drone threats, with black smoke reported near key infrastructure.
Diplomatic efforts remain stalled. Tehran rejects negotiations unless attacks cease and reparations are paid, while Trump insists on “total and decisive” victory, including elimination of Iran’s nuclear and missile threats.
With the Sejjil now proven in combat, the war’s trajectory hinges on whether Iran’s remaining arsenal and proxies can impose sufficient costs to force de-escalation—or 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.
Juba Global News Network provides continuous coverage of this unfolding geopolitical storm.
