Iran has reportedly launched two ballistic missiles toward the joint US-UK military base on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, according to a Friday report by The Wall Street Journal citing US officials.
Neither missile struck the base, located roughly 2,500 miles (4,000 kilometers) from Iran. However, the attempted strike indicates that Tehran may possess longer-range missile capabilities than previously assessed.
The Pentagon declined to comment on the incident.
According to the report, one missile malfunctioned mid-flight, while the second was engaged by an interceptor launched from a US warship. It remains unclear whether that missile was successfully destroyed.
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Diego Garcia, part of the Chagos Islands, is one of two bases the United Kingdom has made available to the United States for what it describes as “defensive” operations related to Iran.
The base serves as a strategic hub for US military activities in Asia and has supported past bombing campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq, with bombers and other equipment stationed there.
The UK has agreed to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after controlling them since the 1960s, while retaining a lease over the Diego Garcia base. Former US President Donald Trump has criticized the decision.
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