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London condemns Iranian attack on Diego Garcia, confirms RAF defending the base

Diego Garcia lies approximately 4,000 kilometres from Iranian territory — double the 2,000-kilometre range that Iranian Foreign Minister had cited as the limit of Tehran's missile capability

Britain's Ministry of Defence condemned on Saturday the launch of two Iranian intermediate-range ballistic missiles at the joint US-UK military base on Diego Garcia, in the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean. Neither projectile struck the installation.

A defence spokesperson described the Iranian attacks as “dangerous” and said they represent “a threat to British interests and those of its allies” across the region, including through the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The spokesperson added that Royal Air Force aircraft and other UK military assets “continue to defend our population and personnel in the region.”

According to The Wall Street Journal, citing US officials, one of the missiles failed in flight while a US warship fired an SM-3 interceptor at the second, though it remains unclear whether the interception was successful. The missiles were launched on Friday, hours after Keir Starmer's government expanded its authorization for the United States to use British bases, including Diego Garcia, for defensive operations aimed at degrading Iranian missile capabilities threatening shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

The attack marks Iran's longest-range strike since the conflict began. Diego Garcia lies approximately 4,000 kilometres from Iranian territory — double the 2,000-kilometre range that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had cited as the limit of Tehran's missile capability. The attempt suggests Iran's ballistic programme possesses greater reach than publicly acknowledged.

The British spokesperson noted that the government has authorized the United States to use UK bases for “specific and limited defensive operations” within the current conflict. British ministers met on Friday to assess the situation and agreed that the authorization extends to operations targeting missile sites threatening navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of global oil supply transits.

In the days before the attack, Araghchi had warned the UK that permitting use of its bases amounted to “participating in the aggression” and called on London to halt all military cooperation with Washington. In a post on X, the Iranian foreign minister argued that the “vast majority” of British people oppose any involvement in the war.

President Donald Trump, meanwhile, criticized London for its “very late” response and called NATO allies “cowards” for refusing to contribute warships to reopen the strait.CompartirContenido del proyectoMercoPressCreado por tiAgrega PDF, documentos u otro texto para consultar en este proyecto.