Iranian strike on Diego Garcia confirms that Iran can reach European capitals: Zamir

Chief of the Israeli General Staff Eyal Zamir said in a video message that Iran had fired a long-range missile capable of traveling more than 4,000 kilometers, targeting what he described as “an American target on the island of Diego Garcia” in the Indian Ocean, and warned of the potential threat such capabilities pose to several European capitals.

“We are halfway through, but the direction is clear. In about a week (...) we will continue to fight for our freedom and our future,” he said. Zamir added that “the considerable damage we have inflicted on the Iranian regime over the past three weeks is beginning to translate into systematic and strategic, military, economic and governmental success.”

“As a result, the regime is weakened, and Iran is more exposed and lacks significant defense capabilities. The leaders of the regime, who have developed capabilities to destroy us, are beaten and disoriented,” he said.

Zamir also said he had approved new battle plans for operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon. “Our forces will stand as a buffer between the enemy and the communities, and any target that represents a threat will be neutralized,” he added.

Israel and the United States launched a war in Iran on Feb. 28, killing Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, in the initial strikes. Iran has since retaliated by targeting U.S. interests and infrastructure in the Gulf and launching repeated missile salvos at Israel. Around the same time as Zamir’s remarks, Tehran claimed a missile strike on the city of Dimona in southern Israel, home to a nuclear complex.