Under fire Iran targets US-UK military base — 2K miles away — with ballistic missiles

Iran fired two intermediate-range ballistic missiles toward a joint U.S.–U.K. military base in the Indian Ocean roughly 2,500 miles away, but neither missile struck the target, according to a new report.

The missiles were aimed at the Diego Garcia base. One of them failed while still in flight. A U.S. warship launched an SM-3 interceptor at the second missile, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday.

It was not immediately clear whether the interceptor destroyed the missile, but the base was not hit.

The report did not specify exactly when the missiles were launched. Iran’s attempt to target Diego Garcia has raised concern among analysts who say the country’s long-range missile capabilities may be expanding. This comes despite Tehran’s previously stated policy of limiting its missiles to ranges of about 1,200 miles.

Iran Watch, a project of the Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control, has assessed that some Iranian missile systems are capable of traveling up to 2,500 miles — approximately the distance between Iran and Diego Garcia.

Diego Garcia is the largest island in the Chagos Archipelago, an atoll that is part of the British Indian Ocean Territory. The installation hosts major U.S. military assets, including bombers, nuclear submarines, and guided-missile destroyers.

The United States recently moved additional forces and aircraft to the region, including B-1 Lancer bombers deployed to Diego Garcia and to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England. The B-1 Lancer can carry up to 24 missiles and is capable of reaching speeds near 900 miles per hour.

Earlier Friday, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer authorized U.S. forces to conduct strikes on Iran from both Diego Garcia and RAF Fairford, according to a report by The Times.

Starmer had previously declined to grant the United States access to those bases. He said the new decision was made in the interest of “collective self-defense” and to help protect the Strait of Hormuz.

The move drew sharp criticism from Iranian officials, who warned that the United Kingdom could become a target if it participates in the conflict. The tensions come after the United States and Israel launched joint operations against Iranian government and military infrastructure.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi accused Starmer of putting British citizens at risk by allowing U.K. facilities to be used in military action against Iran.

“Iran will exercise its right to self-defense,” Araqchi wrote in a post on X.

Days before launching Operation Epic Fury with Israel, President Donald Trump warned that Iran was developing missiles capable of reaching the United States.

“These are some terrible people,” Trump said of the leadership in Tehran during his State of the Union address. “They’ve already built missiles that threaten Europe and our bases overseas, and they’re working on missiles that will soon be able to reach the United States of America.”

Original Source