In a dramatic escalation of the Israel-Iran conflict, Iran claimed it launched its first hypersonic missile, the Fattah-1, at Israeli targets overnight. The strike was accompanied by a sweeping nationwide blackout of internet and phone services, signaling a calculated show of military force and a possible effort to suppress internal dissent and block foreign intelligence gathering.
/*Hypersonic Barrage into Israel*/
It was a first in Iran as its Revolutionary Guard Corps announced the introduction of the Fattah‑1 hypersonic missile, which is accelerated to faster than Mach 5, targeting Israel. Although the claim is yet to be verified, Tel Aviv's anti-missile systems reportedly intercepted the missiles; however, falling debris has occasionally caused damage. Hundreds on social media compared the fiery missile penetration to a Dragon or a meteor flying through the sky.
/*Iran Goes to Digital Darkness*/
At the same time, Iran imposed an almost total internet and phone blackout affecting nearly 90 million citizens, citing the need to prepare for potential Israeli cyberattacks. The outage began on June 18 and resulted in a 97 percent drop in connectivity. Authorities, through state media, described it as a temporary protective measure. However, critics argue it prevents real-time reporting of casualties and hinders emergency communication, noting the government's past use of censorship during crises.
/*Casualties and Communication Breakdown*/
General casualty reports are also unclear. According to the official toll, 224 people were killed, mostly civilians, and more than 1,200 people were injured due to previous airstrikes in Iran. Human Rights Activists have recorded 452 deaths along with wounded, as against 24 Iranian victims by Israel, who were attacked. Data verification is also stimulated by internet shutdowns.
/*Officials Reactions*/
Jazeera’s Maziar Motamedi described the Tehran blackout as a well-coordinated attempt at an information blockade, which coincided with the missile launch. AP journalists reported that military experts explained the blackout could be aimed at preventing intelligence assessments of the missile launch’s effectiveness and its impact on the civilian population. In response, Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed that Israeli airstrikes on Iranian missile bases would continue.