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The recent Iranian strike on the Diego Garcia air base, situated approximately 4,000 kilometers from Iran, has raised eyebrows about Tehran’s missile capabilities. This attack suggests that Iran might possess missiles with a greater range than previously admitted, adding a new layer of complexity to the ongoing tensions.
In a related development, Iran’s Natanz nuclear enrichment facility was reportedly struck by an airstrike over the weekend. According to the official Iranian news agency, the strike did not result in any radiation leakage, but it has certainly escalated the already tense situation.
Adding to the crescendo, Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, announced in a video statement that both Israel and the United States are planning to significantly ramp up their offensive actions against Iran’s ruling government in the coming week. This bold declaration comes on the heels of missile fragments from Iran landing in an empty kindergarten near Tel Aviv, a concerning incident that, fortunately, resulted in no casualties since the building was unoccupied at the time.
Meanwhile, Tehran experienced intense airstrikes overnight and into the morning, as reported by local residents. In a separate incident in Baghdad, Iraq, a drone targeted the intelligence service headquarters, tragically resulting in the death of an officer. As of now, no group has stepped forward to claim responsibility for this attack, leaving many questions unanswered.
Overnight and into the morning, Tehran, Iran’s capital, saw heavy airstrikes, residents said. In Iraq, a drone struck the intelligence service headquarters in Baghdad, killing an officer. No group immediately claimed responsibility for that attack.
Saudi Arabia said it downed 20 drones in just a couple of hours in the country’s eastern region, home to major oil installations. No injuries or damage were reported.
The attacks — and threats of more to come — indicate the Iran war shows no sign of abating.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Japan’s Kyodo news service on Friday that Iran wanted “not a cease-fire, but a complete, comprehensive and lasting end to the war.”
US President Donald Trump said on Friday he was considering “winding down” military operations in the Mideast even as the US was sending three more amphibious assault ships and roughly 2500 additional Marines to the region.
Trump’s post on social media followed an Iranian threat to attack recreational and tourist sites worldwide.
It also came after another climb in oil prices plunged the US stock market, and was followed by a Trump administration announcement it was lifting sanctions on Iranian oil already loaded on ships, a move aimed at wrangling soaring fuel prices.
Iran’s attempt to hit Diego Garcia air base in the Indian Ocean
UK officials have not given details of the attempted strike on the ocean air base on Friday, which was unsuccessful.
Britain’s Ministry of Defence said Saturday that Iran’s “lashing out across the region and holding hostage the Strait of Hormuz, are a threat to British interests and British allies.”
Britain has not participated in US-Israeli attacks on Iran, but has allowed American bombers to use UK bases to attack Iran’s missile sites.
On Friday, the British government said US bombers can also use UK bases, including Diego Garcia, in operations to prevent Iran attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran targeted the base before that UK statement.
Iran’s official news agency Mizan said there was no leakage after Saturday’s strike on the Natanz nuclear facility, nearly 220 kilometres southeast of Tehran.
The facility, Iran’s main uranium enrichment site, was hit in the first week of the war and several buildings appeared damaged, according to satellite images.
The UN nuclear watchdog — the International Atomic Energy Agency — had said “no radiological consequence” were expected from that earlier strike. Natanz had also been targeted in the 12-day war last June.
On Saturday, the IAEA said on X it was informed by Iran about the Natanz strike and about there being no increase in off-site radiation levels.
The agency said it was looking into the incident.
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