Iran has launched two ballistic missiles towards the joint US-UK military base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.
According to a Wall Street Journal report, neither of the missiles struck the base as they were intercepted. However, one missile failed mid-flight, and the other was engaged by an interceptor launched from a US warship.
It is unclear if there were any damages caused to the flights stationed at the base or whether the warship was hit.
It is believed that the target was the military base, which they failed to hit.
Located 4,000 km from Iran’s borders, this new operational range represents a formidable leap in Tehran's military reach. The advancement suggests that Iran now possesses the capability to target European bases, a development that fundamentally alters the security calculus for the continent.
The Pentagon is yet to respond to the firing.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Manish Tewari said in a post on X that if the reports are true, then Iran has just widened the war and sent a very clear message towards the West while striking South.
If reports are correct that Iran attempted to hit the Island of Diego Garcia deep in the Central Indian Ocean
— Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) March 21, 2026
Then Iran has just widened the war and sent a very clear message towards the West while striking South https://t.co/s5prPgp9JQ
Recently, UK allowed the US to use its air bases for attacks amid the escalating tensions in the Middle East. Iran's foreign minister has warned UK and urged them to cease any cooperation with the US.
A US submarine sank the Iranian warship IRIS Dena with a heavyweight torpedo south of Sri Lanka, marking the first major naval engagement of the war in the Indian Ocean. The strike, which targeted the vessel as it returned from a multinational exercise, resulted in at least 85 fatalities, raising significant questions regarding the legality of attacking a ship not actively engaged in hostilities.
Diego Garcia, which served as a critical staging hub for past conflicts in the Middle East, is once again at the centre of a regional theatre. It stands as one of two British facilities facilitating U.S. strikes against Iran, operations that the UK government maintains are purely 'defensive' in nature.
While Britain has agreed to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, the deal includes a critical 99-year leaseback for the joint UK-US base on Diego Garcia. However, US President Donald Trump has expressed formal opposition to the handover, citing concerns over the long-term security and operational integrity of the archipelago's largest strategic installation.
