Iran Fires Long-Range Missiles Near Israel's Dimona, Targets US-UK Base in Indian Ocean

Iranian forces launched long-range ballistic missiles for the first time in the ongoing conflict, striking near the cities of Dimona and Arad in southern Israel and injuring dozens, including children.

Eyal Zamir, head of the Israeli army's General Staff, said Iran fired two ballistic missiles with a 4,000-kilometer range at the US-UK military base in Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. Zamir described the launches as the first use of long-range missiles by Iran in the conflict and the first expansion of its reach beyond the Middle East since US and Israeli attacks on Iran began on February 28. He added that the missiles were not intended for Israel and that their range puts European capitals including Berlin, Paris and Rome within direct threat.

A source in the British Ministry of Defense said the attack on Diego Garcia occurred before the UK government granted permission on Friday for the US to use British bases to strike Iranian missile sites.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said in a statement that it targeted military facilities and security centers in southern Israel. Israel's secret nuclear reactor is located about 13 kilometers southeast of Dimona, near several military sites including the Nevatim airbase.

Affi DeFrin, spokesperson for the Israeli army, said the country's air defenses were active but did not intercept the missiles striking Dimona and Arad. "We will investigate this incident and learn from it," DeFrin said in a post on X.

Since the start of US and Israeli attacks, more than 2,000 people have been killed in Iran, while 15 have been killed in Israel from Iranian attacks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement: "This has been a very difficult night in the battle for our future. We are determined to continue attacking our enemies on all fronts."