Iran fires ballistic missiles at joint UK-US military base at Diego Garcia - as MoD condemns 'reckless attacks'
The double missile strike close to the UK-US base comes hours after the US President suggested he was considering 'winding' down the war in Iran
Iran has fired two ballistic missiles at the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia according to reports - just hours after the UK granted America access to its bases for "collective self-defence".
Listen to this article
Iran is accused of firing the ballistic missiles at the base in the Chagos Islands, located in the Indian Ocean, overnight with the strikes confirmed by US officials on Saturday.
Reports suggest that neither of the two missiles hit their intended target, with one is believed to have been intercepted by a US warship, and the other failed mid-flight on Friday morning.
It follows the UK government confirming a shift in policy on the Iran conflict, with Downing Street noting an "agreement for the US to use UK bases in the collective self-defence of the region includes US defensive operations to degrade the missile sites and capabilities being used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz".
US President Donald Trump had previously announced he was 'winding down' action in the region - hours after confirming he was weighing up the idea of sending more than 2,500 US troops to the Middle East.
On Saturday, the Ministry of Defence condemned what it called “Iran’s reckless attacks”.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “Iran’s reckless attacks, lashing out across the region and holding hostage the Strait of Hormuz, are a threat to British interests and British allies.
"RAF jets and other UK military assets are continuing to defend our people and personnel in the region," the statement continued.
“This Government has given permission to the US to use British bases for specific and limited defensive operations.”
The Pentagon has drawn up plans that could involve seizing Kharg Island, Iran’s key oil terminal in the Gulf.
Mr Trump’s top spokesman confirmed the details to The Telegraph but cautioned that the president had not made a final decision.
It comes as Sir Keir Starmer spoke to the Crown Prince of Bahrain, Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, on Saturday to discuss the war in the Middle East.
A spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister spoke to His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, this morning.
"The leaders began by discussing the situation on the ground, and the Prime Minister outlined the UK’s latest support for Bahrain, including deploying a team of experts to help counter drone attacks.“Both condemned Iran’s ongoing attacks on critical national infrastructure and the Strait of Hormuz.
" The Prime Minister updated on the US use of UK bases in the collective self-defence of the region, including to degrade the missile sites and capabilities being used to attack shipping.
“Discussing diplomatic efforts in the region, the Prime Minister welcomed Bahrain joining the growing list of signatories to the UK-led joint statement condemning Iran’s attacks and calling for de-escalation.
"The Prime Minister also thanked His Highness for Bahrain’s continued leadership in the United Nations to drive forward an end to the conflict.“The leaders looked forward to speaking again soon.”
Writing on Truth Social on Friday, Mr Trump said: "We are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East with respect to the Terrorist Regime of Iran."
He added that the Strait of Hormuz "will have to be guarded and policed, as necessary, by other Nations who use it — The United States does not!"
"If asked, we will help these Countries in their Hormuz efforts, but it shouldn’t be necessary once Iran’s threat is eradicated.
"Importantly, it will be an easy Military Operation for them."
Read more: Caller Khalid has some views on the US-Iran war that Tom finds 'ridiculous'
Earlier, Washington sources said the Pentagon is sending three warships and thousands of additional Marines to the Middle East, marking the second deployment of Marines to the region in the past week.
The roughly 2,200 to 2,500 Marines will be deployed on the California-based USS Boxer amphibious.
White House officials have said Trump's desperation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz could lead the US to invade Kharg Island. “He wants Hormuz open,” a White House official told Axios.
“If he has to take Kharg Island to make it happen, that’s going to happen. If he decides to have a coastal invasion, that’s going to happen. But that decision hasn’t been made.
“We’ve always had boots on the ground in conflicts under every president, including Trump. I know this is a fixation in the media, and I get the politics, but the president is going to do what’s right,” a second senior official said.
According to a report in Axios, Washington is hoping a blockade of the Island would put pressure on Iran to allow ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, which transports around 20% of the global oil supply.
In his Truth Social post, Mr Trump also left a muddled picture of whether the US would guard the crucial Strait of Hormuz shipping lane.
The US president launched a fresh attack on his NATO allies on Friday , branding them "cowards" in a blistering TruthSocial post.
"Without the U.S.A., NATO IS A PAPER TIGER!" he raged
"They didn’t want to join the fight to stop a Nuclear Powered Iran. Now that fight is Militarily WON, with very little danger for them, they complain about the high oil prices they are forced to pay, but don’t want to help open the Strait of Hormuz, a simple military maneuver that is the single reason for the high oil prices."
"So easy for them to do, with so little risk. COWARDS, and we will REMEMBER"
The US and Israel launched strikes on Kharg, a five-mile-long island in the Persian Gulf, last week, escalating their conflict with Iran and putting further strain on global oil supplies.
US forces made sure to leave the island’s oil export facilities untouched but Trump warned he would reconsider if Iran fails to open the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking on Thursday night, Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu said the war could end “a lot faster than people think” as he gave an update on he and Trump’s war in the Middle East.
Netanyahu vowed to "hold off" future attacks on Iranian gas fields following a direct request from President Trump.