The American-British military base at Diego Garcia, in the Indian Ocean, came under Iranian missile attack, as conflicts continue.
According to international media citing American officials, none of the missiles hit their target. The Wall Street Journal, citing two American officials, reported that one missile experienced technical failure, while an SM-3 interceptor missile was launched from an American warship against the second. However, it has not been clarified whether the interception was successful, according to one of the officials.
Concerns about Iranian missile range after Diego Garcia attack
The launches marked a significant attempt by Iran to reach far beyond the Middle East and threaten US interests, the WSJ reported. An official told CNN it represents a critical US military staging ground abroad for operations far from home and a key airfield for the American military’s heavy bomber fleet.
General Sir Richard Barrons, former commander of Joint Forces Command, emphasized that the attack on Diego Garcia proves Iran’s missiles are “more powerful than we initially estimated.”
Speaking on the “Today” program, Sir Richard stated: “Previously we considered Iran’s missiles had a range of 2,000 km, while Diego Garcia is 3,800 km from Iran.” Currently it is not known which missile Iran used to strike Diego Garcia.
Iran had previously boasted that newer versions of the Khorramshahr, a medium-range missile with normal range of 1,000 to 2,000 km, could reach Diego Garcia. Some experts believe the Khorramshahr’s range could be extended with a smaller warhead.
