Iran Missiles Target US-UK Base on Diego Garcia, But Missed
Iran launched intermediate-range ballistic missiles at Diego Garcia, a joint United States-United Kingdom military base in the Indian Ocean, on Friday morning local time, a U.S. Official confirmed.
According to the official, two missiles were fired at the facility, approximately 2,370 miles (3,810 kilometers) from the Iranian coast. Neither missile struck the base. Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency reported Saturday that the launches were a demonstration of Iran’s ability to threaten U.S. And allied interests “beyond the borders of West Asia.” The agency did not report on the success of the targeting.
Diego Garcia, part of the Chagos Islands archipelago located over 1,000 miles northeast of Mauritius, serves as a key airfield for U.S. Heavy bomber fleets and has been a crucial staging post for U.S. Military operations globally. The base has supported military actions including the two invasions of Iraq and has served as a landing point for bombers operating across Asia. It has also been the subject of controversy due to alleged links to U.S. Rendition efforts.
The Chagos Islands’ history is marked by a complex political situation. The UK assumed control of the islands alongside Mauritius in 1814. Whereas Mauritius gained independence in 1968, the Chagos Islands have remained under British administration. In 1971, the U.S. And UK jointly established a major military base on Diego Garcia, motivated by a desire to counter Soviet influence in the region.
Recently, a treaty has been agreed upon whereby the UK will transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. However, the UK will maintain a 99-year lease on the military base at Diego Garcia, receiving $136 million annually from Mauritius, allowing continued U.S. And UK access to the facility. Earlier this year, former U.S. President Donald Trump publicly criticized the UK’s plan to relinquish control of the islands to Mauritius, calling it “stupidity.”
The White House, Pentagon, UK Ministry of Defence, and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command have not yet issued public statements regarding the missile launches.