LONDON (AP) – Iran has launched missiles at Diego Garcia, an Indian Ocean island that serves as a strategic military base for the U.K. and the U.S. This attack was condemned by Britain, which referred to it as "Iran's reckless attacks," although specifics regarding how close the missiles came to the island remain unclear. Diego Garcia is located approximately 2,500 miles (4,000 kilometers) from Iran.

The Diego Garcia base, described by the U.S. as "an all but indispensable platform," plays a crucial role in security operations spanning the Middle East, South Asia, and East Africa. It is home to around 2,500 personnel, primarily American, and has historically supported various U.S. military operations, from the Vietnam War up to campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. Notably, the base was acknowledged by the U.S. to have been used for clandestine rendition flights of terror suspects.

Last year, the U.S. deployed several nuclear-capable B-2 Spirit bombers to Diego Garcia amidst an airstrike campaign against Yemen's Houthi rebels. Initially, Britain had refused to allow the base to be used for U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran. However, following Iran's aggressive actions toward its neighbors, the U.K. permitted American bombers to use Diego Garcia and another base for potential attacks on Iranian missile sites, particularly those targeting ships in the strategically significant Strait of Hormuz.

The U.K. government maintains that British bases can only be utilized for "specific and limited defensive operations." In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticized Prime Minister Keir Starmer, asserting that British lives are endangered by allowing U.K. bases to be used in attacks on Iran. Historically, Iran's ballistic missile program was self-restrained to a maximum range of 1,240 miles (2,000 kilometers), which places Diego Garcia well outside of that range. Nonetheless, U.S. officials have long expressed concerns that Iran's space program may facilitate the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Justin Bronk, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, suggested that Iran's missile attack on Diego Garcia may have involved an improvised use of its Simorgh space launch rocket, which could function as a ballistic missile with increased range but reduced accuracy.

Diego Garcia is part of the Chagos Archipelago, which consists of over 60 islands in the Indian Ocean, situated off the southern tip of India. The archipelago has been under British control since 1814, when it was ceded by France. In the 1960s and 1970s, Britain reportedly evicted around 2,000 inhabitants from Diego Garcia to establish the U.S. military base. Recently, criticism has surged against Britain's governance of the islands and the forced displacement of local populations. Both the United Nations and the International Court of Justice have urged the U.K. to conclude its "colonial administration" and transfer sovereignty back to Mauritius.

Last year, the U.K. government reached an agreement with Mauritius to relinquish sovereignty over the islands, while leasing Diego Garcia back for at least 99 years. The U.K. argues that this arrangement secures the base's future against potential legal challenges. However, it faces significant backlash from opposition politicians who contend that ceding the islands increases the risk of interference from nations like China and Russia. Additionally, displaced Chagos islanders and their descendants challenge the deal, emphasizing concerns over their lack of consultation and the uncertainty surrounding their possible return to their homeland.

Initially welcoming the agreement, the U.S. administration faced a change in sentiment from President Donald Trump, who publicly denounced it as "an act of GREAT STUPIDITY" on his Truth Social platform. Starmer's initial decision to prohibit U.S. attacks on Iran from Diego Garcia further exacerbated tensions, leading Trump to criticize the U.K. for being "very, very uncooperative" regarding the island. The progression of the U.K.-Mauritius deal through Parliament remains stalled as efforts are made to regain U.S. support.

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Jon Gambrell contributed to this report from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Jill Lawless, The Associated Press