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The UK Ministry of Defence has condemned Iran for engaging in “reckless attacks” and escalating tensions across the region, following reports that Tehran targeted the joint US-UK military facility located on the Chagos Islands. According to reports from the Wall Street Journal and CNN, citing anonymous US officials, two ballistic missiles were launched towards Diego Garcia; however, neither missile successfully struck the base. One reportedly malfunctioned mid-flight while the other was intercepted by a US Navy warship. The precise timing of these missile firings remains unclear.
Although the British Ministry of Defence has neither confirmed nor denied the incident, sources within the BBC have verified the accuracy of the reports. In an official statement issued on Saturday morning, the MoD characterized Iran’s actions as a threat not only to British interests but also to those of its allies, further accusing Tehran of leveraging control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The US military has not publicly commented on the matter.
The technical ability of Iran to reach Diego Garcia with ballistic missiles has been questioned, given that the island is situated approximately 2,350 miles away, which exceeds the previously known maximum range of Iran’s intermediate-range ballistic missiles thought to be around 1,250 miles. Nonetheless, some defense analysts, including experts from Israel’s Alma Research and Education Center, suggest Iran might possess missiles such as the Khorramshahr capable of reaching distances up to 1,800 miles. Diego Garcia’s remote airbase has long held strategic importance, serving as a hub for long-range bombers and operations throughout the Middle East.
Despite this, the UK government has restricted the use of British bases for strikes against Iran to only those operations justified as protecting British or allied interests, extending recently under the claim of “collective self-defence” to targets threatening maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil shipping route. This cautious stance has drawn criticism from US President Donald Trump, who accused the UK of delayed action in securing the waterway and criticized NATO allies for resisting deployment of warships. Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned British involvement as endangering UK personnel and asserted Iran’s right to self-defence.
Domestically, the UK’s political response has seen calls from the Liberal Democrats and Green party for parliamentary approval before enabling US use of UK bases, while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch denounced the government’s position as a significant reversal. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer plans to convene a Cobra meeting to address potential rises in living costs linked to disruptions in the energy market, with the International Energy Agency warning of broader consequences from instability in oil supplies.
The sovereignty status of the Chagos Islands, currently under British control, remains complex. The UK government has agreed to transfer sovereignty to Mauritius, while leasing back the Diego Garcia base to ensure its continued operation. This arrangement follows long-standing disputes, as Mauritius claims the islands were illegally detached during its independence process. The local Chagossian population, expelled in the 1960s to accommodate the airbase, have also opposed the deal.
Meanwhile, Iran’s campaign of strikes has extended to various Middle Eastern countries hosting US military facilities and to Israel, which has carried out its own strikes on Iranian targets. A recent drone attack by Tehran on RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus caused minimal damage but prompted questions about UK military readiness. In response, the British government dispatched HMS Dragon, a Type 45 destroyer, to the region as part of efforts to bolster defenses around key strategic locations
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