Iran fires missiles at Diego Garcia base as Trump signals US withdrawal

Muhammad Asghar | GlobalBeat

Iran launched missile strikes against the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia late Tuesday, hours after President-elect Donald Trump said Washington would “wind down” Middle East operations.

Pentagon officials confirmed multiple projectiles struck the Indian Ocean facility, which houses 3,000 American and British personnel. No casualty figures were released.

The attack marked the first time Tehran has targeted the strategic base, 3,000 miles from Iran’s coastline. Diego Garcia serves as a crucial staging post for US bombers and nuclear submarines.

Reactions

Trump told reporters at Mar-a-Lago the incoming administration would pursue “a very different approach” to regional conflicts. “We’re looking at winding down this whole thing,” he said.

Incoming National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said the strikes represented “a serious escalation” but declined to specify potential responses. “All options remain on the table,” Waltz told Fox News.

British Defence Secretary John Healey convened an emergency cabinet meeting. “We are working closely with American partners to assess the damage,” Healey said in a brief statement outside Downing Street.

Attack details

US Central Command said Iran fired “approximately 12 ballistic missiles” beginning at 23:47 local time. Satellite imagery showed impact craters near the main runway, according to defence analysts.

An unnamed Pentagon official said initial assessments suggested the base’s missile defence systems intercepted “the majority” of incoming projectiles. British military sources confirmed “limited damage” to infrastructure.

All aircraft at the facility were moved to hardened shelters before impact, the official added. Power outages affected parts of the base for several hours.

Regional response

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates issued cautious statements urging restraint. The Saudi foreign ministry called for “de-escalation and dialogue” without directly mentioning Iran.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the attack “demonstrated Iran’s destabilising role” but provided no indication of planned Israeli action. Defence Minister Israel Katz convened security chiefs for consultations.

China’s foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian urged “all parties to exercise maximum restraint” and protect “regional peace and stability.”

Economic impact

Oil prices surged 4.7% in Asian trading, with Brent crude reaching $78.90 per barrel. Energy analysts cited fears of potential disruption to shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz.

Marine insurance rates for vessels transiting the Persian Gulf increased 15% overnight, according to Lloyd’s Market Association data. Major shipping firms rerouted several container vessels around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope.

Gold prices rose 2.1% to $2,067 per ounce as investors sought safe haven assets. Asian stock markets opened lower, with Japan’s Nikkei falling 1.8%.

Diplomatic fallout

The United Nations Security Council scheduled an emergency session for Wednesday afternoon. France and Britain requested the meeting, diplomats said.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas condemned the strikes “in the strongest possible terms” but did not announce new sanctions. EU leaders will discuss potential responses at a summit next week.

Iran’s UN mission defended the attack as “legitimate self-defence” against “US aggression in the region.” The statement claimed the base had been used to coordinate recent American military actions.

Military implications

Defence analysts said the strike demonstrated Iran’s growing missile capabilities. “They’ve shown they can reach targets 3,000 miles away,” said Michael Knights of the Washington Institute.

The attack used improved versions of Iran’s Kheibar Shekan ballistic missiles, according to satellite imagery analysis by the Institute for the Study of War. These weapons have ranges exceeding 3,000 miles.

US military planners previously considered Diego Garcia beyond Iran’s strike range, limiting defensive preparations. “This changes the calculation for force protection,” said retired Admiral James Stavridis.

Timeline of escalation

Tensions spiked following a US drone strike that killed Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander Abbas Nilforoushan in Syria on January 5. Iran vowed “harsh retaliation” for his death.

American bases in Iraq and Syria faced 13 rocket and drone attacks over the past week. Previous strikes caused minor injuries but no fatalities among US personnel.

Trump’s comments about “winding down” operations came during a wider discussion about reducing American military footprints abroad. “We want to bring our people home,” he said.

Background

Diego Garcia, a British Indian Ocean Territory leased to the United States, has served as a major military installation since the 1970s. The base played crucial roles in operations against Afghanistan and Iraq while hosting B-2 and B-52 bombers.

Iranian officials have periodically threatened US bases across the region amid tensions over Tehran’s nuclear program. Previous missile attacks targeted American facilities in Iraq during 2020 following the killing of General Qasem Soleimani.

What’s Next

Trump will receive his first full intelligence briefing on the situation Wednesday morning. His transition team has requested detailed military options ranging from limited strikes to diplomatic responses, according to two officials familiar with preparations.

Regional analysts said Iran’s willingness to strike Diego Garcia suggested confidence in its missile capabilities and calculation that the incoming administration would avoid major escalation. The attack tests Trump’s stated desire to reduce American involvement in regional conflicts while maintaining deterrence against Iranian aggression.