U.K. authorities have not disclosed details about the attempted strike on the joint U.K.-U.S. airbase located on an island in the Indian Ocean, noting only that the attack was unsuccessful. It remains unclear how close the missiles came to the base, which lies roughly 2,500 miles (4,000 kilometres) from Iran.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the U.K. Ministry of Defence said Iran’s actions-described as lashing out across the region and effectively holding the Strait of Hormuz hostage-pose a threat to British interests as well as to the country’s allies.