In the 2014 Yemen Civil War, Houthi-aligned forces used Zelzal-1 rockets in long-range indirect-fire attacks, including the 17 March 2017 Kofal camp mosque strike in Sirwah, Marib Province, and reported or intercepted August 2018 launches toward Najran and Jizan.
Role detailsArtillery
Zelzal-1 rocket
Also known as
- Naze'at-10
The Zelzal-1 is an Iranian 610 mm unguided artillery rocket, also reported as Naze'at-10, from a FROG-7-derived rocket family. Open-source reporting places Zelzal production from 1990 into the early 2000s, with reported delivery to Hezbollah and later 2014 Yemen Civil War use by Houthi-aligned forces in long-range attacks on Marib and Saudi border provinces.
Role in Conflicts
Profile / Specs
Profile
- Origin
- Iran
- Built by
- Iran
- Type
- Unguided artillery rocket
- Service note
- 1990s Iranian rocket family used in the 2014 Yemen Civil War
- Produced
- 1990-early 2000s
- Developed from
- Soviet FROG-7 / 9M21 rocket lineage
- Developed into
- Zelzal-2
Specifications
- Caliber
- 610 mm
- Range
- About 125 km to 160 km
- Warhead
- 600 kg high-explosive warhead
- Length
- 8.325 m
- Launch weight
- 2,950 kg
- Propulsion
- Solid rocket propellant
Variants
Zelzal-1 sits in an Iranian FROG-7-derived rocket line: the Soviet 9M21/FROG-7 is the documented lineage source, Zelzal-2 is the direct follow-on, and Fateh-110 is a guided downstream development from Zelzal-2.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
 | Soviet FROG-7 lineage source | CSIS describes Zelzal as an Iranian variant of the Soviet FROG-7 artillery ballistic missile, while Atlantic Council says Zelzal-1 was based on the Soviet FROG-7. Sources: Hezbollah's Rocket Arsenal, Iran's Ballistic Missile Inventory |
| Zelzal-2 | Direct follow-on rocket | Atlantic Council says Zelzal-1 was quickly developed into the Zelzal-2 spin-stabilized missile with a longer range. Sources: Iran's Ballistic Missile Inventory |
 | Guided downstream development | CSIS describes the Fateh-110 as most likely a modified unguided Zelzal-2 with added control and guidance systems. Sources: Hezbollah's Rocket Arsenal, Fateh-110 |
Timeline
Zelzal-1 rocket Key Events
Zelzal family production begins
Atlantic Council says production of the Zelzal family began in 1990 and extended into the early 2000s.
Sources: Iran's Ballistic Missile Inventory
Iran reportedly delivers Zelzal rockets to Hezbollah
CSIS says Iran reportedly began delivering Zelzal-1 and Zelzal-2 rockets to Hezbollah in the early 2000s.
Sources: Hezbollah's Missiles and Rockets
Kofal camp mosque strike in Marib Province
CSIS says two Zelzal-1 missiles struck a mosque in Sirwah, Marib Province, on 17 March 2017; Reuters/AFP reporting carried by The Nation also tied the Kofal camp attack to Zelzal-1 missiles.
Sources: The Missile War in Yemen, 22 killed in mosque attack in Yemen's Marib
CSIS reports Zelzal-1 launches toward Najran and Jizan
The CSIS update reported two Houthi-launched Zelzal-1 missiles toward Saudi Arabia's Najran and Jizan provinces in late August 2018, with one Najran-bound missile intercepted and a separate Jizan claim reported by Reuters.
Sources: Yemen Missile War Update: Aug 17-29, Yemen's Houthis say missile fired at Saudi Arabia's Jizan province
Documented Lineage
Open-source reporting places Zelzal-1 inside a compact Iranian rocket line: a FROG-7-derived unguided rocket, a longer-range Zelzal-2 follow-on, and a later guided Fateh branch derived from Zelzal-2.
Lineage source
9M21/FROG-7 rocket lineage appears in both CSIS and Atlantic Council descriptions of Zelzal.
The catalog also tracks the launcher family under 9K52 Luna-M.
Direct follow-on
Atlantic Council identifies Zelzal-2 as the quick follow-on to Zelzal-1, with a longer 210 km class range.
No standalone public Zelzal-2 record exists yet, so the follow-on remains unlinked here.
Downstream branch
Fateh-110 is described by CSIS as most likely a modified unguided Zelzal-2 with control and guidance systems added.
This is an indirect lineage connection through Zelzal-2, not a direct Zelzal-1 conflict-use claim.
Sources: Hezbollah's Rocket Arsenal, Iran's Ballistic Missile Inventory, and Fateh-110.
Related Weapon Systems
Sources
Hezbollah's Rocket ArsenalPublisher: Center for Strategic and International Studies | Note: Supports Zelzal-1 background, Iranian origin, FROG-7 lineage, Fateh-110 downstream lineage through Zelzal-2, and technical specifications including range, warhead, length, diameter, and launch weight. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Iran's Ballistic Missile InventoryPublisher: Atlantic Council | Note: Supports Zelzal family background, production window, the Naze'at-10 designation, solid rocket propellant, FROG-7 lineage, and the Zelzal-2 follow-on. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Hezbollah's Missiles and RocketsPublisher: Center for Strategic and International Studies | Note: Supports Zelzal-1 background and specifications, and says Iran reportedly began delivering Zelzal-1 and Zelzal-2 rockets to Hezbollah in the early 2000s. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Fateh-110Publisher: Center for Strategic and International Studies | Note: Supports downstream lineage context: CSIS describes the Fateh-110 as most likely a modified unguided Zelzal-2 with added control and guidance systems. | Accessed: 2026-07-04The Missile War in YemenPublisher: Center for Strategic and International Studies | Note: Supports 2014 Yemen Civil War direct conflict-use: Zelzal-1 rockets were used in the 17 March 2017 Sirwah mosque strike in Marib Province. | Accessed: 2026-07-0422 killed in mosque attack in Yemen's MaribPublisher: The Nation | Note: Supports 2014 Yemen Civil War direct conflict-use: Reuters/AFP reporting carried by The Nation says Houthi-aligned reporting identified Zelzal-1 missiles as the main weapon used in the Kofal camp mosque attack in Marib. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Yemen Missile War Update: Aug 17-29Publisher: Center for Strategic and International Studies | Note: Supports 2014 Yemen Civil War direct conflict-use: Houthi-launched Zelzal-1 rockets were reportedly fired toward Najran and Jizan in August 2018, including an intercepted Najran-bound missile and a Jizan launch claim that CSIS treated as partly unconfirmed. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Yemen's Houthis say missile fired at Saudi Arabia's Jizan provincePublisher: Ahram Online | Note: Supports 2014 Yemen Civil War direct conflict-use: Reuters reporting carried by Ahram Online says the Houthis' Masirah TV claimed a Zelzal-1 missile launch toward Saudi Arabia's Jizan province in August 2018. | Accessed: 2026-07-042018 Sacred Defence Week parade (329).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for a Commons-categorized Zelzal-1 launcher photo from Iran's 2018 Sacred Defence Week parade; Commons currently marks the file as needing license review. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Islamic Republic of Iran Army Day 2015 (208).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for a reviewed CC BY 4.0 Commons image categorized under Zelzal-1 and Zelzal-2 from Iran's 2015 Army Day parade. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Sacred Defence Week parade, 2017, in Tehran (0226).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for a Commons-categorized Zelzal-1 launcher photo from Iran's 2017 Sacred Defence Week parade; Commons currently marks the file as needing license review. | Accessed: 2026-07-04