Iran launched unsuccessful attack on UK's Diego Garcia • Hacker News Board

Re: Iran launched unsuccessful attack on UK's Diego Garcia

#21

Post by derektank » Sat, Mar 21, 2026, 5:19 PM UTC

madaxe_again wrote: post #3

carbocation wrote: post #2

The article kind of downplays the most interesting elements. Not an expert, but to my limited understanding: * I think this is the longest-range use of a ballistic missile in anger, possibly ever? * This seems to reveal previously-unknown range of Iranian ballistic missiles and, if true, could touch basically all of Europe?

Iran have boats.

Obviously they have boats. The question is, do they still have boats which are capable of serving as a launch platform for ballistic missiles? And could those boats meaningfully close the distance between Iran and its adversaries.

This launch demonstrates that if the answer to both of those questions is still no, they can still place them at threat.

Re: Iran launched unsuccessful attack on UK's Diego Garcia

#22

Post by cardanome » Sat, Mar 21, 2026, 5:20 PM UTC

Accusing Iran of "lashing out" and being "reckless" by attacking US bases while the US and Israel literally murder school children, bomb hospitals and assassinate state leaders is rich.

It didn't have to be this way but they decided this to turn into a fight of survival for Iran and destroy any option for a peaceful resolution. Now they are going to pay the price.

Re: Iran launched unsuccessful attack on UK's Diego Garcia

#23

Post by anvuong » Sat, Mar 21, 2026, 5:20 PM UTC

cardanome wrote: post #15

georgeburdell wrote: post #6

The fact that it was unsuccessful does not make it any less worrying. Iran was a regional problem before the war, but this new escalation shows they’re a threat to the entire world. They might have previously had a chance at a Vietnam or perhaps a Korea-style stalemate

Iran is fighting for survival, Israel and the US are fighting by choice. They attacked Iran not the other way round. US bases, even if also used by UK which aides US it their war, are legitimate targets. US imperialism is the greatest threat to the world.

The IRGC is fighting for survival, most Iranian want them gone, and Iran will be better as a whole if the IRGC is all dead. Don't try to conflate the government with the country, they don't always align.

Re: Iran launched unsuccessful attack on UK's Diego Garcia

#24

Post by kevbin » Sat, Mar 21, 2026, 5:21 PM UTC

mikeyouse wrote: post #5

Unfortunately this is more interesting than a failed Diego Garcia attack — the late Ayatollah had a self-imposed range limit on the strikes or tests they would carry out. By using IRBMs in this fashion, it’s clear the new regime no longer feels bound by that restriction.. Which is notable since it’s about the same distance from Southern Iran to Diego Garcia (3,800km) as it is from Northern Iran to London.

[flagged]

Re: Iran launched unsuccessful attack on UK's Diego Garcia

#25

Post by alephnerd » Sat, Mar 21, 2026, 5:21 PM UTC

AndrewKemendo wrote: post #9

Diego Garcia is strategically very important to global security according to the US Had something actually struck within the ADIZ there would have been massive implications. My guess is they intentionally failed as a warning shot. This isn’t a random act and its quite the signal if you know what it means, Iran knows what it did here.

> This isn’t a random act and its quite the signal if you know what it means, Iran knows what it did here.

It also publicizes Iran-NK military cooperation on ballistics development, which the Biden admin warned about [0], as well as Iran-Russia military cooperation (which was obviously much less under-the-radar).

It also shows the merger of the Ukraine conflict with the West Asia conflict, and was a major reason why Fiona Hill argued we entered an unavoidable polycrisis in 2022 [1].

[0] - https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/us-officia...

[1] - https://xcancel.com/FrankRGardner/status/2027098560647348410...

Re: Iran launched unsuccessful attack on UK's Diego Garcia

#26

Post by applfanboysbgon » Sat, Mar 21, 2026, 5:21 PM UTC

mytailorisrich wrote: post #12

mikeyouse wrote: post #5

Unfortunately this is more interesting than a failed Diego Garcia attack — the late Ayatollah had a self-imposed range limit on the strikes or tests they would carry out. By using IRBMs in this fashion, it’s clear the new regime no longer feels bound by that restriction.. Which is notable since it’s about the same distance from Southern Iran to Diego Garcia (3,800km) as it is from Northern Iran to London.

Iran has always said a lot of things (mostly BS). This is worthless without evidence and I don't think anyone had evidence that their missiles were restricted to 2,000km. Certainly, I don't think anyone took their word for it. In fact this attack proves that there was no such limitation (although it is unclear to me if the missiles fired could actually jave reached Diego Garcia). Now this may be a demonstration and v…

You didn't have to take their word for it. It was self-evident from the fact they never did anything like this before, and now they are.

Notably, the previous guy issued a religious decree against the development of nuclear weapons. Despite American's favorite propaganda tool for manufacturing consent, "but the WMDs", we have no reason to believe that was ever actually being violated. But you'd better believe it will be now if they think they can pull it off.

Re: Iran launched unsuccessful attack on UK's Diego Garcia

#27

Post by nozzlegear » Sat, Mar 21, 2026, 5:21 PM UTC

verdverm wrote: post #18

myth_drannon wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

Large surface and mini subs, yes. They still have many small boats for laying mines. These are indistinguishable from a typical motor boat. Look at how Ukraine has denied Russia access to most of the Black Sea. It's going to be real hard to stop Iran from creating enough uncertainty to ease the worries of the shipping world. Iran will have to say they are done threatening the straight.

We're losing the plot here. What use are small motor boats for launching ballistic missiles?

Re: Iran launched unsuccessful attack on UK's Diego Garcia

#28

Post by irishcoffee » Sat, Mar 21, 2026, 5:21 PM UTC

verdverm wrote: post #18

myth_drannon wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

Large surface and mini subs, yes. They still have many small boats for laying mines. These are indistinguishable from a typical motor boat. Look at how Ukraine has denied Russia access to most of the Black Sea. It's going to be real hard to stop Iran from creating enough uncertainty to ease the worries of the shipping world. Iran will have to say they are done threatening the straight.

The haven’t even started using these yet, curious who wins this game of chess: https://www.usff.navy.mil/press-room/news-stories/article/31...

Re: Iran launched unsuccessful attack on UK's Diego Garcia

#29

Post by zer00eyz » Sat, Mar 21, 2026, 5:22 PM UTC

derektank wrote: post #21

madaxe_again wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Iran have boats.

Obviously they have boats. The question is, do they still have boats which are capable of serving as a launch platform for ballistic missiles? And could those boats meaningfully close the distance between Iran and its adversaries. This launch demonstrates that if the answer to both of those questions is still no, they can still place them at threat.

The question is do they have a launcher that fits in a shipping container...

Re: Iran launched unsuccessful attack on UK's Diego Garcia

#30

Post by spaghetdefects » Sat, Mar 21, 2026, 5:22 PM UTC

anvuong wrote: post #23

cardanome wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Iran is fighting for survival, Israel and the US are fighting by choice. They attacked Iran not the other way round. US bases, even if also used by UK which aides US it their war, are legitimate targets. US imperialism is the greatest threat to the world.

The IRGC is fighting for survival, most Iranian want them gone, and Iran will be better as a whole if the IRGC is all dead. Don't try to conflate the government with the country, they don't always align.

Most Iranians do not want the IRGC gone, that's US/Israeli propaganda. Thousands of people have been marching in support of the IRGC. Common sense would also tell you that Iranians aren't going to support the people bombing their schools.