Iran Missile Range: Diego Garcia Attack & Europe Threat

Iran launched ballistic missiles toward Diego Garcia, a joint United States-United Kingdom military base in the Indian Ocean, on Friday, according to the U.K.’s defense ministry. The attack, which the U.K. Government condemned as “reckless,” marks a significant escalation in tensions following the start of a war initiated by the U.S. And Israel against Iran on February 28.

Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied responsibility for the missile launch, according to reports from Al Jazeera. U.S. Officials have not yet issued a public statement regarding the incident. The missiles reportedly targeted the base, which is approximately 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles) from Iranian territory.

Diego Garcia serves as a crucial strategic platform for U.S. Security operations in the Middle East, South Asia and East Africa, and is home to roughly 2,500 personnel, primarily American. The U.S. Has utilized the base to support military operations dating back to the Vietnam War, including more recent engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2008, the U.S. Acknowledged the base’s use in clandestine rendition flights involving terror suspects.

The incident occurred three weeks into the U.S.-Israel war against Iran, which officials have stated is aimed at degrading Iran’s nuclear and missile programs. Tehran maintains its nuclear program is solely for civilian purposes. The United Nations nuclear watchdog and U.S. Intelligence officials have previously assessed that Iran was not on the verge of developing nuclear weapons, assertions that were disputed prior to the launch of the current conflict.

Last year, the U.S. Deployed several nuclear-capable B-2 Spirit bombers to Diego Garcia during an intensive airstrike campaign targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels. Initially, the U.K. Resisted allowing the base to be used for potential U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran. However, following Iranian actions against its neighbors, the U.K. Subsequently authorized the use of Diego Garcia, along with another British base, for potential attacks on Iranian missile sites, including those targeting ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

The U.K. Government stated on Friday that the authorization includes sites used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The extent of damage, if any, caused by the missile strike remains unclear, as does the proximity of the missiles to the island itself.