Iran fired missiles at UK-US base on Diego Garcia, BBC understands

[HISTORIC: Iran strikes Diego Garcia with missiles, BBC reports]

Muhammad Asghar | GlobalBeat

Iran launched multiple missiles at the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, the BBC reported, marking Tehran’s first known attack on the remote Indian Ocean facility.

The broadcaster cited unnamed British officials who confirmed the strike on the British territory that hosts the strategic air and naval base.

Diego Garcia serves as a critical staging post for US operations across the Middle East and Indian Ocean, hosting B-2 stealth bombers and a major naval anchorage. The US maintains around 1,700 personnel at the base, according to its own figures.

The attack positions Iran as striking 3,000 miles south of its territory, compared to the roughly 1,200-mile range of its earlier assaults on Israel. No confirmed casualties were reported from Monday’s strike, though the BBC said “assessments were ongoing.”

The base sits on a coral atoll leased by Britain to the United States since 1971. Both nations maintain the joint facility, known as Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia, which includes a runway capable of handling heavy bombers and a sheltered anchorage.

A spokesperson for the UK Ministry of Defence said they “do not comment on operational matters,” when contacted by Reuters about the report. The US Central Command declined to confirm or deny the strike.

The Iranian mission to the United Nations did not respond to requests for comment. State media in Tehran made no mention of the attack in its broadcasts or official statements.

The strike follows months of escalating tensions across the Middle East, triggered by Israel’s war against Hamas and repeated clashes between Iran-backed militias and American forces across the region.

Since October, the United States has carried out multiple strikes against Iranian proxies in Iraq, Syria and Yemen. Tehran has relied on regional allies rather than direct attacks, with Monday’s reported missile launch representing a notable shift in tactics if confirmed.

Regional experts pointed to the technical challenge of striking Diego Garcia, which lies 3,000 miles south of Iran’s nearest border. “This would require Iran’s longest-range ballistic missiles,” said Fabian Hinz of the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

The Shahab-6, if operational, could potentially reach 3,700 miles. Iran has displayed missiles in this category but never tested them at full range, analysts say. Any confirmed strike would demonstrate capabilities far beyond Tehran’s previous regional attacks.

Oil prices rose 2.1% in Asian trading following the BBC report, with Brent crude reaching $91.50 per barrel. Prices had already climbed during the week amid broader Middle East tensions involving Red Sea shipping disruptions.

Background

Diego Garcia became a UK-US base after Britain separated the Chagos Islands from then-colony Mauritius in 1965, creating the British Indian Ocean Territory. The United Kingdom leased the main island to Washington six years later.

The base played crucial roles in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. B-2 bombers flew from the island to strike Taliban positions in 2001, while the facility served as a transit point for American forces invading Iraq in 2003.

Iran’s missile program developed during the 1980s war with Iraq, as Tehran sought deterrent capabilities against regional adversaries. The program expanded under successive governments despite international sanctions and UN Security Council resolutions.

Western intelligence agencies estimate Iran possesses the Middle East’s largest missile arsenal, including weapons capable of striking targets up to 2,000 kilometres away. The reported Diego Garcia attack would extend that range considerably.

What’s Next

US and British officials will assess damage to the base while determining an appropriate response, military analysts said. Washington maintains significant naval assets in the region, including a carrier strike group heading toward Middle Eastern waters.

The reported attack raises questions about whether Iran will target other Western military facilities across the broader region. Tehran may face pressure to demonstrate missile accuracy if footage emerges either confirming or disproving the strike.