Iran fired two ballistic missiles towards the Chagos Islands on Friday, in what appears to be a response to fresh US military activity from the UK-US base at Diego Garcia, according to reports.
US officials cited by The Wall Street Journal said the missiles were launched hours after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer allowed the United States to use the joint military facility to target Iranian missile sites.
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The missiles were directed towards Diego Garcia, marking the first known attempt by Iran to strike the remote Indian Ocean base.
Missiles did not hit target, interception attempt reported
Neither missile struck the base, officials said. One of the projectiles is believed to have failed mid-flight, while a US naval destroyer launched an SM-3 interceptor at the second.
It remains unclear whether the interception was successful.
The reported strike is being seen as one of Iran’s longest-range missile actions since the beginning of the ongoing conflict, referred to in some reports as “Operation Epic Fury.”
Long-range capability and limited details
Unverified reports on social media earlier in the day suggested that radar systems in the Persian Gulf region had detected the launch. However, details on how far the missiles travelled remain unclear.
The distance between southern Iran and Diego Garcia is estimated to be around 4,000 kilometres. Analysts note that only a limited number of Iran’s missile systems are believed to have long-range capability, with Tehran claiming ranges of up to 2,000 kilometres for some of its known assets.
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Tensions escalate in West Asia
The development comes amid rising tensions in the region following recent US strikes on Iranian-linked targets. The use of Diego Garcia as a launch base has added a new dimension to the conflict, drawing attention to strategic locations beyond the immediate Gulf region.
There has been no official confirmation from Iranian authorities on the missile launch at the time of reporting.
