Israel warns that Iran’s long-range missiles could reach East Africa

Israel has raised concerns that Iran’s long-range missiles could reach parts of East Africa, including Nairobi and other major cities in the region.

In a statement released by the Israeli embassy in Kenya, officials said Iran has missile capabilities that can cover a distance of up to 4,000 kilometres from its capital, Tehran. This range reportedly puts several African cities within reach.

According to the embassy, cities such as Mogadishu in Somalia and Addis Ababa in Ethiopia fall well within this distance. Juba in South Sudan is also said to be within range, while Nairobi is believed to be near the outer limit.

The statement explained that Addis Ababa is about 3,200 kilometres from Tehran, while Mogadishu is estimated to be between 3,700 and 3,800 kilometres away. Juba is slightly below 4,000 kilometres, and Nairobi is estimated to be between 4,300 and 4,400 kilometres from Tehran.

Israeli officials said this shows how close the Middle East and East Africa are in terms of distance, especially when it comes to modern missile technology. They noted that such capabilities have raised fresh security discussions in the region.

The warning comes at a time when tensions involving Iran and the United States continue to rise. Experts are now paying closer attention to Iran’s missile programme and how far its weapons can reach beyond the Middle East.