Iran’s recent launch of a long-range ballistic missile marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict, validating earlier warnings from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) about Tehran’s missile ambitions.
On Saturday, Iran attempted its farthest strike to date, firing two intermediate-range ballistic missiles toward the joint US-UK military base on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean—approximately 4,000 kilometers (about 2,500 miles) from Iranian territory.
This represents the longest-range missile operation in Iran’s history, far exceeding its publicly declared limit of around 2,000 km. According to US officials cited in reports, one missile malfunctioned mid-flight, while the other was intercepted by a US Navy destroyer using an SM-3 system. No damage was reported at the base, but the attempt demonstrates Tehran’s capability to target distant sites, placing European capitals such as London, Paris, and Berlin within potential reach.
The IDF highlighted this development in a statement, noting that during Operation Rising Lion in June 2025, Israeli intelligence revealed Iran’s intent to develop missiles with a 4,000 km range. At the time, the Iranian regime denied these claims. The IDF emphasized that such weapons pose a global threat, endangering dozens of countries across Europe, Asia, and Africa.
“The Iranian terrorist regime poses a global threat,” the statement read. “Now, with missiles that can reach London, Paris, or Berlin.” Iran has already conducted attacks against 12 countries in the region through its proxies and direct actions.
IDF Intensified Operation Roaring Lion
In response to these provocations, the IDF continues wide-scale operations under Operation Roaring Lion (the current phase against Iran and its allies). Recent strikes targeted Iranian military infrastructure, including a strategic research and development facility at Malek-Ashtar University in Tehran. Subordinate to Iran’s Defense Ministry and internationally sanctioned, the site was used by military industries and the ballistic missiles array to advance nuclear weapon components and missile technology.
Additional targets in Iran included dozens of weapon and missile storage compounds, launchers, production sites for ballistic missile components, fuel production facilities tied to the Ministry of Defense, and air defense systems. In a major sortie over Tehran, the IDF hit a central IRGC compound for ballistic missile production, storage facilities for missile components, and related sites. Concurrently, strikes in Lebanon targeted Hezbollah infrastructure, such as an intelligence headquarters command center and an aerial defense array headquarters.
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