Iran has firepower to strike London claims Israel after long-range hit on Diego Garcia

Israel has warned that Iran’s missile capabilities now pose a direct threat to major European cities, including London, Paris, and Berlin, following an attempted long-range missile strike on the UK-US military base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. Two ballistic missiles were fired toward the base; one was intercepted by a US warship, while the other failed mid-flight. This marks the first known long-range missile launch by Tehran since the outbreak of the ongoing conflict, signaling a significant expansion of its offensive reach. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) stated that the missiles have an estimated range of around 4,000 kilometers, putting dozens of countries across Europe, Asia, and Africa within potential strike distance. This development challenges previous assessments that Iran’s missile capabilities were limited to roughly 2,000 kilometers, a range insufficient to threaten Western Europe. The Ministry of Defence has not confirmed the exact timing of the Diego Garcia attack, but it reportedly occurred before the UK authorized the US to use British bases for strikes against Iranian missile sites near the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticized the UK for endangering British lives through this cooperation. Military experts have offered differing views on the implications of the missile launch. Gen Sir Richard Barrons, former head of the UK’s Joint Forces Command, emphasized that Iran’s missile reach is greater than previously thought, raising concerns about European security. Meanwhile, Danny Citrinowicz, a former Israeli military intelligence officer, suggested the missile strike may serve more as a strategic warning to the UK rather than an immediate threat to Europe, aimed at bolstering Iran’s deterrence posture. Lt Gen Eyal Zamir of the IDF reiterated that while the missiles were not aimed at Israel, their range encompasses major European capitals, underscoring the broader regional and global security risks posed by Tehran’s advancing missile program.