Iran's missiles break record by attacking U.S. base 4,000 kilometers away
According to the "Wall Street Journal" on the 20th, Iran fired two ballistic missiles at a U.S. base on Diego Garcia Island in the middle of the Indian Ocean on that day.
U.S. sources said that one of the missiles failed during flight, while the other was intercepted by a U.S. warship (Burke or Ticonderoga) launching a "Standard-3" anti-missile missile, but whether the interception was successful remains unconfirmed.
The most eye-catching aspect of this operation is the distance covered by the missile. Diego Garcia Island is about 3,800 to 4,000 kilometers from Iran's mainland, while previous U.S. intelligence assessments suggested that the maximum range of Iran's current ballistic missiles does not exceed 2,000 kilometers, with their strike range limited to the Middle East and surrounding areas.
Based on this assessment, the U.S. has long regarded the island as a "safe rear area" for actions against Iran, with B-52 strategic bombers taking off and landing here, considered to be free from direct retaliation from Iran.
Iran's move directly broke the U.S. dual assumptions on range and safe zones. Although it is still unclear whether the missile actually hit the target, the launch itself has sent a clear signal: Diego Garcia Island is no longer a "haven" where the U.S. can rest easy. For the United States, this is not only an unexpected tactical incident, but also means that the original assumptions of its military deployment in the Indian Ocean need to be re-examined.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1860263862425034/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself