The Pentagon declined to respond to a request from Agence France-Presse regarding a report by the "Wall Street Journal" that Iran had fired two ballistic missiles at the joint US-British base on Diego Garcia atoll in the Indian Ocean.
When asked by AFP for comment, the department declined to comment. There have been no official reactions from other institutions contacted for comment, such as the White House and the British Embassy in Washington, Reuters reports.
None of the missiles fired at the island, located about 4,000 km from Iranian territory, hit their targets, the newspaper said, citing several US officials. However, the attack suggests that Tehran has missiles with a longer range than previously thought, the "Wall Street Journal" notes.
One of the missiles malfunctioned during flight, and a US Navy ship fired an interceptor missile at the other, but it is not clear whether the Iranian missile was hit, the publication adds.
Diego Garcia is part of the Chagos archipelago and is one of two British bases that the United States allows the US to use for "defensive" operations against Iran.
The US forces have deployed bombers and other equipment to the island, which has long played a strategic role in Washington's military operations in Asia, including the bombing of Afghanistan and Iraq.
Britain agreed to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after taking control of them in the 1960s, but continues to lease Diego Garcia, the largest of the islands in the archipelago.
US President Donald Trump has sharply criticized the decision.
Saudi Arabia has shot down more than 20 drones launched against the kingdom, the Ministry of Defense in Riyadh said, as quoted by Agence France-Presse.
A spokesman for the ministry wrote in Exx that "ten drones were shot down over the Eastern Province".
The ministry subsequently issued a new publication in which added that the air defense forces shot down 12 more drones over the same region.
Soon after, information appeared about three more drones shot down in the same area, the last of which was reported by SPA minutes ago.
There are no reports of casualties or damage.
Iran continues to attack Saudi Arabia and its other neighbors in retaliation for the Israeli-American bombing of the Islamic Republic, which began at the end of last month and subsequently spread throughout the Middle East, recalls Agence France-Presse.
The attacks on the oil-rich monarchies in the Gulf, some of which targeted energy facilities, have increased concerns about the shock to global energy supply markets.
Meanwhile, on the other front of the war, the Lebanese front, the Israeli army announced that this night has launched strikes on targets of the Shiite movement "Hezbollah" in the capital Beirut, Reuters reported.
Earlier, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued a warning to the civilian population to evacuate seven areas in the southern suburbs of the city.
There are no reports of casualties or injuries so far.
As the war against the Iran-backed group "Hezbollah" has entered its third week, Israel has stepped up its operations against the Shiite movement's fighters.
The conflict between Israel and "Hezbollah" is the bloodiest branch of the US-Israeli war against Iran. The Lebanese group intervened in the conflict on March 2, when it began shelling Israel in a sign of support for Tehran. The fighting has so far claimed more than 1,000 lives and forced more than 1 million Lebanese to flee their homes.
Several more countries have joined the joint declaration of leading European countries plus Japan and Canada on their readiness to participate in relevant efforts to guarantee freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and to take steps to stabilize energy markets, Reuters reported.
Here is the full text of the document, which has so far been signed by Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, Canada, South Korea, New Zealand, Denmark, Latvia, Slovenia, Estonia, Norway, Sweden, Finland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Bahrain and Lithuania:
"We condemn in the strongest terms the recent attacks by Iran on unarmed merchant vessels in the Gulf, the attacks on civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas installations, as well as the de facto closure of Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces.
We express deep concern about the escalation of the conflict. We call on Iran to immediately cease its threats, to cease its mine-laying, as well as its missile and drone attacks and other attempts to block commercial shipping in the Strait, and to implement UN Security Council Resolution 2817.
Freedom of navigation is a fundamental principle of international law, including under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The consequences of Iran’s actions will be felt by people in all parts of the world, especially the most vulnerable.
In line with UN Security Council Resolution 2817, we emphasize that such interference in international shipping and disruption of global energy supply chains constitute a threat to international peace and security. In this regard, we call for an immediate and comprehensive moratorium on attacks on civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas.
We stand ready to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure free passage through the Strait. We welcome the commitment of the countries involved in the advance planning.
We welcome the decision of the International Energy Agency to allow the coordinated release of volumes from the Strategic Petroleum Reserves.
We will take other steps to stabilize energy markets, including working with certain producing countries to increase production.
We will also work to assist the most affected countries, including through the United Nations and the International Financial Institutions.
Maritime security and freedom of navigation benefit all countries. We call on all countries to be guided by international law and the fundamental principles of international prosperity and security."