After issuing a stern warning that the use of British military bases by the United States for launching offensive strikes on Iran would be viewed as aggression against Tehran, Iran launched two ballistic missiles at Diego Garcia, the Indian Ocean military outpost jointly operated by the US and the UK.
Iran fired two mid-range ballistic missiles at Diego Garcia, demonstrating long-range attack capabilities. According to a WSJ report, one of the two missiles allegedly failed in flight, while an SM-3 interceptor was used to neutralize the other.
The US and UK military base on Diego Garcia has long been a vital asset, facilitating a wide range of military activities. The facility is situated about 4,000 kilometres from Iran and was believed to be beyond the reach of its ballistic missiles.
The attack has once again highlighted Iran’s undeclared capabilities and its ability to strike targets far beyond the Gulf region. Additionally, it feeds into Iran’s overall strategy of keeping ambiguity and is likely to keep the US, the UK, and Israel on tenterhooks.
The attack was launched after the UK approved the US use of its bases as launchpads for attacks on Iranian sites targeting the Strait of Hormuz, which remains under a de facto closure enforced by the IRGC.
London announced that the US “defensive operations to degrade the missile sites and capabilities being used to attack ships” will now take place at UK bases after Donald Trump censured NATO allies for being “cowards” and piled pressure on the alliance to help open the strait.
The British move was seen as a departure from the earlier stance taken by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who appeared to be adopting a more calibrated approach. Earlier this week, Starmer said the UK would not be “drawn into the wider war” while assuring that he was working on “a viable plan”. “Ultimately, we have to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to ensure stability in the [oil] market. That is not a simple task,” the British PM had stated.
After the UK authorised the use of its bases for the US, Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi communicated to the UK Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, that Iran views the UK’s choice to let the US use British bases as “participation in aggression.”
In response, ”The foreign secretary also warned Iran against targeting UK bases, territory or interests directly and restated the UK’s focus on regional stability and security,” the secretary’s office stated.
Interestingly, the UK had initially objected to the US use of its bases to launch attacks on Iran before the US launched “Operation Epic Fury” on February 28. However, as Iran launched a massive retaliation, Starmer permitted US forces to use the sites exclusively for “collective self-defence”, in what was seen as “the mother of all U-turns.”
British Bases Used By The US To Attack Iran
RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England
This facility has been a key hub for US heavy bombers conducting missions against Iranian missile infrastructure. In fact, it has emerged as a primary forward operating location for US Air Force heavy bombers conducting strikes on Iranian targets.
Since the UK authorised its use, the base has hosted significant numbers of US strategic bombers, including the B-1B Lancer and the B-52H Stratofortress bombers.
The use of the base for bomber operations is considered very significant as it enables long-range strikes and reduces flight times to Iranian targets by over 50% as compared to US-based launches, allowing higher sortie rates.
Diego Garcia
It is situated at the crossroads of critical maritime routes between Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, and is close to the Strait of Hormuz.
The military base on Diego Garcia has long been a vital asset for the United States and the UK, facilitating a wide range of military activities. The base serves as a key logistics hub, supporting naval operations, air missions, and intelligence gathering. Its airfield can handle long-range bombers, and its harbour can accommodate large naval vessels.
The base hosts US strategic bombers for extended missions over Iran, as well as nuclear submarines and guided-missile destroyers. The aircraft deployed here could operate from here on long round-trip flights launching standoff weapons. This enables high-volume strikes outside Iranian air defences, supporting the suppression of enemy air defences (SEAD), the degradation of ballistic or cruise-missile infrastructure, and naval targeting.
Last year, amid heightened tensions between the two sides in April, the base hosted the B-2 stealth bombers.
RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia have historically supported US long-range bomber missions in the Middle East, including operations against Houthi targets in Yemen in the past two years.
Notably, the Iranian attack on Diego Garcia has taken the war from the Middle East to the Indian Ocean Region, demonstrating that Tehran intends to escalate its attacks against American allies who aid the US attacks on Iranian territory.
It is not immediately clear whether Iran would strike other British bases in the Middle East region, particularly those that have not actively been used in the ongoing war. However, some experts said that the possibility cannot be completely ruled out, given that Gulf allies of the US came under attack immediately after the first strikes were launched by the US military.
British Military Facilities in The Middle East
In the Middle East, the United Kingdom maintains a sizeable military presence that largely supports air operations, logistics, naval security, and regional stability initiatives. This military presence encompasses permanent bases, access to allied facilities, and deployments of manpower.
In Bahrain, the country maintains the United Kingdom Naval Support Facility (UKNSF), which is also known as HMS Jufair or the Mina Salman Port facility. Opened in 2018, the UKNSF is the UK’s main permanent naval base in the Persian Gulf and supports Royal Navy vessels, mine countermeasures, and up to around 500 personnel. It supports longstanding maritime security missions.
In the past, UKNSF served as the home port for ships participating in “Operation Kipion”, the UK’s main military initiative to support maritime security and peacekeeping in the Gulf region, as well as to ensure the secure flow of trade and oil.
In Oman, the United Kingdom established the UK Joint Logistics Support Base at Duqm in 2018, which is a permanent joint support facility. The base serves as a nautical and logistical hub outside the Persian Gulf and supports aircraft carriers and Royal Marines, as well as maintenance. Additionally, the UK also uses Al Musannah airbase for Royal Air Force (RAF) operations.
In Qatar, the UK has access to the Al Udeid Air Base, a major US-led facility which has been under fire from Iran in the ongoing war. Interestingly, the facility also serves as the RAF’s operational headquarters in the Middle East. In fact, the base serves as the RAF’s operational headquarters in the Middle East, and the UK operates a joint RAF-Qatari Emiri Air Force squadron there, with Eurofighter Typhoons deployed for air defence.
In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the UK enjoys access to the Al Minhad Air Base. It opened a permanent military centre at the base in March 2024 and uses the base to support RAF operations in the region.
In Cyprus, the UK has two permanent bases: RAF Akrotiri and Dhekelia. Akrotiri serves as a major hub for RAF operations across the Middle East, including combat aircraft deployments. These are British sovereign territories and home to thousands of troops, as well as RAF F-35 jets and Typhoons.
In addition to these, British troops operate from bases in northern Iraq, notably in Erbil, to support local partner forces. Additionally, it maintains some military presence in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, but it is insignificant compared to the bases listed above.
With Iran actively launching attacks on multiple countries in the region, several of these countries that host the UK have come under attack. However, until this point, no British facility listed above has been the direct target of an Iranian drone or missile.
The attack on Diego Garcia, however, has changed the game.
- Contact the author at sakshi.tiwari13 (at) outlook.com
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