News Desk
DIEGO GARCIA: Iran has launched ballistic missiles at the joint US-UK military base on the island of Diego Garcia, a strategic outpost in the Indian Ocean, following the United Kingdom’s decision to allow the United States to use its military facilities for strikes against Iranian targets. According to news agencies, Iran fired two ballistic missiles at the remote island territory, though both projectiles failed to hit their intended targets.
The missile strike marks a significant escalation in the conflict that began on February 28, as Tehran responds directly to the UK’s authorization of American use of British bases. Earlier this week, Britain granted the United States permission to utilize its military installations, with an American newspaper reporting that Washington would be able to employ British bases for attacks on Iranian targets—particularly those with the capability to threaten the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint.
US President Donald Trump criticized the UK’s timing, stating that Britain should have acted sooner and had delayed excessively before granting base access. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi issued a stark warning, declaring that the British prime minister was putting the lives of his citizens at risk by allowing UK territory to be used for attacks against Iran. The missile launch represents Iran’s first direct strike on the Diego Garcia facility, a key logistical hub for US and British military operations across the Middle East and Indian Ocean region.
The attack comes amid heightened tensions following Iran’s repeated warnings that any nation providing military bases or support to US operations would be considered a party to the war. The UK’s decision has placed Britain squarely in Iran’s crosshairs, with Araghchi previously stating that providing bases to the US would be viewed as participation in aggression.
