Yasin Güngör
21 March 2026•Update: 21 March 2026
Iran launched two intermediate-range ballistic missiles toward Diego Garcia, a strategically vital joint US-UK military base in the Indian Ocean, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday.
Neither of the missiles struck the base, according to the outlet, with one malfunctioning mid-flight, and a US warship attempting to intercept the other with an SM-3 missile. It is unclear if the interception succeeded, said the Journal, citing US officials.
No statement was issued by Iranian or American authorities regarding the reported attack.
The strike attempt is significant for what it reveals about Iran's capabilities. Diego Garcia lies roughly 4,000 kilometers (2,484 miles) from Iran, double the 2,000-kilometer limit Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed last month Tehran had deliberately imposed on its arsenal.
The island, the largest in the Chagos Archipelago in the central Indian Ocean, has hosted a joint US-UK military presence since the 1970s and serves as a base for long-range bombers and other strategic assets.
US-Israeli strikes against Iran began Feb. 28 and have reportedly killed 1,300 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Tehran has retaliated with strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Gulf countries hosting US military assets.
