UK minister Steve Reed confirmed Sunday that Iran launched two ballistic missiles targeting the joint UK-US military base at Diego García in the Indian Ocean. One missile fell short and failed, while the other was intercepted.
"Our assessment is that the Iranians certainly targeted Diego Garcia," Reed told the BBC, representing the government on morning broadcasts. The remote base, located about 4,000km from Iran, supports US defense operations in Asia.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the strikes, noting Diego Garcia's strategic role in past US military campaigns. The incident suggests Iran now possesses longer-range missile capabilities than previously assessed.
American forces have stationed bombers and critical assets on the island. Prior to Friday’s attack, the UK confirmed it would allow the US to use Diego Garcia and Fairford Air Base to target Iranian missile sites linked to attacks in the Strait of Hormuz.
Reed emphasized the UK will not be drawn into the conflict, stating there is no evidence Iran intends to target British territory. He noted differences between Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Donald Trump reflect historical precedent, citing UK-US policy splits during Vietnam.