We are talking about two medium-range ballistic missiles that Iran tried to attack US and UK naval base Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. US officials noted that this could be Iran's first operational use of an IRBM for a strike outside the Middle East.
According to The Times, one missile was intercepted by an American ship, the other fell a hundred miles from the object.
The Israel Defense Forces also stated that this is the first use by Iran of missiles with a range of about 4 thousand km. Defense Express suggested that these could be missiles belonging to the Khorramshahr type with a range from 3 thousand to 5.5 thousand km.
Previously, Tehran limited the range of its missiles to approximately 2 thousand km, not due to technical capabilities, but due to considerations of the restrained policy of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was eliminated on February 28.
“The Iranian regime poses a global threat… its missiles can reach London, Paris or Berlin,” the Israeli military emphasized.
The Times' sources note that the purpose of the attack was probably not to hit the base. The interlocutors regard the launch as a demonstrative signal for Great Britain and its European allies against the backdrop of their support for US and Israeli operations in the region, because Tehran is against European intervention in the conflict in the Middle East.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned Tehran's actions, calling them “aggressive.” At the same time, the United Kingdom expanded the terms of use of its US bases, allowing not only defensive but also limited strikes against targets related to threats to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Context
On the morning of February 28, Israel and the United States announced military operation in Iran. White House President Donald Trump has announced his intention to protect the American people by eliminating threats from the Iranian regime. Same day liquidated Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and more than 40 other country officials.
In early March, Trump said that operation in Iran may take four weeks. Politico wrote that military action could last until September.
Tehran responded with strikes, including on countries in the Middle East where there are American military facilities. In particular, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia were hit by Iranian ballistic missiles and Shahed drones, which the Russian Federation regularly attacks Ukraine with. Tehran's attacks in the Middle East have killed dozens of people.
Trump said on March 15 that militarily, the United States had “virtually defeated Iran.” According to him, the United States has destroyed the country's ability to produce missiles. Therefore, now Iran, according to him, has few of them left.
On March 20, the US President announced the possibility of curtailing a large-scale military operation in the Middle East, and the next day he threatened to destroy Iranian power plants if Tehran did not unblock the Strait of Hormuz.
