In a June 15 update titled “At least 13 killed in Israel after days of conflict with Iran,” CNN’s Tamar Michaelis and Nadeen Ebrahim mischaracterize what Iran is firing at Israel.
According to CNN, “Over 200 rocket launches were reported overnight…”
However, Iran is launching ballistic missiles, not rockets—and the distinction is critical.
One key difference is guidance. Ballistic missiles are guided weapons, allowing for precise targeting. Rockets, by contrast, are unguided and inherently indiscriminate. When a ballistic missile crashes into the home of an Arab Israeli family in Tamra or an apartment building in Bat Yam, it is reasonable to assume that Iran intended to strike those residential neighborhoods.
Terror groups like Hamas are only capable of roughly aiming their unguided rockets at Israeli population centers.
Another major difference is explosive payload. Rockets—such as those fired by Hamas and Hezbollah—typically carry warheads ranging from 5 to 75 kilograms. Iran’s ballistic missiles, however, often carry payloads of 350 to 750 kilograms, with some reaching 1,000 kilograms.
Describing Iran’s ballistic missiles as “rockets” therefore seriously understates the threat faced by Israeli civilians.
CAMERA urges CNN to promptly correct its erroneous terminology.