"Report": Iran Launched Missiles at US-British Base in the Indian Ocean

SadaNews - Iran recently launched two ballistic missiles towards the US-British military base on Diego Garcia Island in the Indian Ocean, according to the Wall Street Journal citing US officials.

The report mentioned that neither of the missiles hit the target, which is about four thousand kilometers away from Iranian territory, but the launch operation reveals that Tehran possesses missiles with longer range than previously believed.

The newspaper reported that one of the missiles malfunctioned during flight, while the other was targeted by an interceptor missile launched from a US warship, but it was unclear whether the missile was hit or not.

The Diego Garcia base in the Chagos Archipelago is one of two bases that Britain allowed the United States to use for "defensive" operations in Iran.

The US military has deployed bombers and other equipment at the base, which is considered a key operations center in Asia, including for US bombing campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Britain agreed to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after they had been under its control since the 1960s, while retaining the right to lease the military base at Diego Garcia. US President Donald Trump strongly criticized London’s decision to abandon the island.