IRAN has reportedly launched two medium-range ballistic missiles towards Diego Garcia, a strategically vital joint United States–United Kingdom military base in the Indian Ocean, in a move seen as a significant escalation demonstrating its extended strike capability.
According to a report citing United States officials, neither missile struck the base.
One reportedly malfunctioned mid-flight, while a US warship attempted to intercept the second using an SM-3 missile defence system. It remains unclear whether the interception was successful.
No official statements have been issued by either Tehran or Washington regarding the reported incident.
The attempted strike is notable for its range, as Diego Garcia lies approximately 4,000 kilometres from Iran—twice the 2,000-kilometre limit previously cited by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi as the country’s self-imposed boundary for its missile programme.
The island, the largest in the Chagos Archipelago, has hosted a joint US-UK military presence since the 1970s and serves as a key hub for long-range bombers and other strategic assets.
The development comes amid intensifying hostilities following the United States–Israel offensive against Iran launched on February 28, which has reportedly killed around 1,300 people, including Iran’s former supreme leader Ali Khamenei.
In response, Tehran has carried out retaliatory strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Gulf states hosting US military assets, raising fears of a broader regional conflict. - March 21, 2026
