Iran launched two ballistic missiles towards the Chagos Islands on Friday – just hours after Sir Keir Starmer gave the US permission to use the joint UK-US base to target a new set of Tehran’s missile sites.
US officials told the Wall Street Journal that two missiles were fired towards Diego Garcia – the first known attack of its kind.
Neither of the missiles hit the base, but the launch represents the longest-range attack by Iran since the start of “Operation Epic Fury”.
One of the missiles is said to have failed mid-flight, while an American destroyer fired an SM-3 interceptor at the other.
But the WSJ reported it could not be determined if an interception was made.
Unverified social media reports from shortly before 9pm GMT claimed radar systems around the Persian Gulf had picked up the launch.
They did not specify how much of the 4,000-kilometre journey between southern Iran and Diego Garcia the missiles covered.
But of Iran’s arsenal, only its Khorramshahr rockets can fly up to 2,000km, Tehran claims.
Former US Centcom spokesman Colonel Joe Buccino told GB News the launch was a “strategic move”.
“Iran wants to incur as much damage as possible, involve as many countries as possible, and inflict as much damage on the West, Israel and the Gulf states as possible,” Col Buccino said.
“They want an American amphibious assault.
Of Iran’s arsenal, only its Khorramshahr rockets can fly up to 2,000km, Tehran claims
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GB NEWS
“This regime survives by not failing – they win by not losing, as Ho Chi Minh said.”
He added that at present, “we don’t know” how many long-range missiles capable of targeting Diego Garcia Iran has, but it was “worth noting” that the US used one of its finite supply of SM-3 interceptors to bring it down.
According to a report by Israel’s Alma Research and Education Centre, Iran’s arsenal mainly consists of short-range ballistic missiles, which reach up to 1,000 kilometres.
Its medium-range ballistic missiles can reach as far as 3,000 kilometers.
But the centre says that “according to various reports, long-range ballistic missiles are currently in advanced stages of development”.
Hours before the launches, Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s Foreign Minister, accused Sir Keir Starmer of putting British lives at risk by allowing the US to British bases to launch attacks in the Middle East.
PICTURED: US Air Force ground crew members wave at a B-52H Stratofortress bomber in Diego Garcia in 2001. Iran launched two missiles towards the base on Friday night
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GETTY
Sir Keir Starmer specifically only allowed the bases to be used to hit missile sites which could imperil ships in the Strait of Hormuz
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DOWNING STREET
Sir Keir specifically only allowed the bases to be used to hit missile sites which could imperil ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Mr Araghchi then said the “vast majority” of Britons did not want any UK involvement in the war.
“Ignoring his own people, Mr Starmer is putting British lives in danger by allowing UK bases to be used for aggression against Iran,” he raged.
“Iran will exercise its right to self-defence,” he said.
Donald Trump on Friday afternoon said Sir Keir “should have acted a lot faster” in green-lighting the use of Diego Garcia.
“It’s been a very late response from the UK,” the President said.
“I’m surprised because the relationship is so good, but this has never happened before. They were really, pretty much our first ally, all over the world.”
Donald Trump on Friday afternoon said Sir Keir ‘should have acted a lot faster’ in green-lighting the use of Diego Garcia
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REUTERS
Later that day, Mr Trump took to social media to reveal that the US was considering winding down its war.
He said American forces were getting “very close” to meeting their five key objectives.
The five, he said, were:
- “Completely degrading Iranian missile capability, launchers, and everything else pertaining to them”;
- “Destroying Iran’s defence industrial base”;
- “Eliminating their navy and air force, including anti-aircraft weaponry”;
- “Never allowing Iran to get even close to nuclear capability, and always being in a position where the USA can quickly and powerfully react to such a situation, should it take place”;
- “Protecting, at the highest level, our Middle Eastern allies, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, and others”.
GB News has approached the Ministry of Defence for comment.
