Iran launched two intermediate-range ballistic missiles toward Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, but neither struck the US-UK military base, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday, citing US officials.According to the report, one missile broke apart during flight, while a US warship fired an SM-3 interceptor at the second. It remains uncertain whether the interceptor successfully destroyed its target. The timing of the launch was not disclosed.The White House, the British embassy in Washington, and the Ministry of Defence did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.Diego Garcia is a strategically located atoll in the central Indian Ocean that hosts a key US-UK military facility. Part of the British Indian Ocean Territory, the base is operated primarily by the United States and serves as a critical hub for air and naval operations across a vast region spanning Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.The base has played a central role in US military campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan, providing a launch point for long-range bombers and supporting naval deployments, including submarines and surveillance missions. Its remote location makes it a secure site for pre-positioning military supplies, fuel and equipment, enabling rapid response during regional crises.Diego Garcia is also seen as vital to Washington’s strategic posture in the Indian Ocean, allowing it to monitor and counter activities by rivals such as Iran and China. Its isolation and heavy fortification make it one of the most secure overseas military installations available to the US.
Diego Garcia
War escalates unhindered
The development comes when the United States is deploying thousands of additional Marines and sailors to West Asia, three US officials said on Friday, as Washington steps up its military presence in the region. While no decision has been taken to send troops into Iran, the reinforcements are aimed at strengthening operational capacity for potential future action, the officials said on condition of anonymity.One official said the USS Boxer, along with two other amphibious assault ships and about 2,500 Marines from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, is headed to West Asia from its home port of San Diego. Two other US officials confirmed the deployment but did not disclose the ships’ destination. The same official noted that the troops are leaving the US nearly three weeks ahead of schedule. The White House and the Pentagon did not respond to requests for comment.
A contested legacy
The latest deployment will add to the roughly 50,000 US troops already stationed in West Asia and is expected to bring two Marine Expeditionary Units into the region. Typically comprising around 2,500 Marines each, these units can conduct a range of operations, including airstrikes from onboard aircraft or ground deployments. Earlier reports had indicated that the US military was preparing for possible next steps in the ongoing conflict.Separately, US forces are intensifying efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route. US warplanes and attack helicopters have increased strikes against Iranian drones and naval vessels as part of a broader campaign to keep the sea lanes open, officials said.Gen Dan Caine said Thursday that low-flying Air Force A-10 Warthog aircraft were “hunting and killing fast-attack watercraft” operated by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard in the contested waters. He added that some regional allies, which he did not identify, were using Apache helicopter gunships to “handle one-way attack drones,” a tactic increasingly used by Iran across the Persian Gulf.The US is also weighing plans to occupy Kharg Island to pressure Tehran into reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Axios reported on Friday, citing four sources.
