Iranian forces have attempted a missile strike on the UK-US base of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, previously thought to lie beyond the range of Iran's missiles.
A British official source confirmed on Saturday that Iran has made an unsuccessful attempt to strike the joint US-UK military base at Diego Garcia.
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The attack involved the launch of two ballistic missiles that failed to reach the atoll: one malfunctioned in flight, while the other was intercepted.
According to the source, the attack took place before the British government announced that the United States could use British bases to launch strikes on Iranian sites involved in attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
The incident has revealed an Iranian missile capability greater than previously estimated.
Diego Garcia lies around 4,000 km from Iran’s coastline, double the 2,000 km range that Tehran has always stated officially.
Where the Diego Garcia military base is located
Diego Garcia is the largest island in the Chagos archipelago, with its base strategically located in the Indian Ocean. Although the territory is under British sovereignty, the base is operated by the US and has critical infrastructure, including a long runway to accomodate large bombers and a deep natural harbour suitable for nuclear submarines and warships.
The base hosts a significant military presence, underscoring its role in global security. The United States permanently stations B-52 and B-1 strategic bombers there, and it also houses the 15th Space Surveillance Squadron for satellite monitoring.
The base also serves as a key logistics hub, with ships loaded with heavy equipment ready to support an entire marine brigade at short notice.
The British presence, although limited in numbers, maintains administrative authority and international legal oversight over all operations launched from the atoll.
UK bases used by the US for the war
In diplomatic terms, the United Kingdom has drawn clear lines around its military support: it has granted Washington permission to conduct "defensive bombing missions" from Diego Garcia and from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire (from where some strikes have already been launched), but it has refused the use of the RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus for offensive operations.
This distinction underlines London’s desire to limit regional escalation while still protecting international trade routes.
The British Ministry of Defence has reiterated that Iran’s reckless actions pose a direct threat to British interests and to the stability of partners in the Gulf region.