World

Fears of war spreading with Iran targeting Indian Ocean

By AAP Newswire

Mar 21, 2026

US Air Force airmen near a B-2 plane (file image) — The military base on Diego Garcia is jointly used by the United Kingdom and the United States. -AP

Iran has launched a missile attack on a military base in the Indian Ocean jointly used by the United Kingdom and the United States, according to US media reports.

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The Islamic Republic fired ballistic missiles at the base on the island of Diego Garcia, part of the Chagos Islands, on Friday morning, the Wall Street Journal and CNN reported, citing senior US officials.

According to the reports, two medium-range missiles were launched but failed to hit the facility.

There was no immediate public confirmation from either the UK or US governments.

The Chagos Islands are at the centre of an ongoing diplomatic dispute involving the UK, the United States and Mauritius.

US President Donald Trump has been sharply critical of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's refusal to authorise the use of the base for the initial US-Israeli strikes against Iran's military and leadership, which began in late February.

Trump has withdrawn his support for a UK-backed agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

The US may need Diego Garcia to fend off a possible attack by the Iranian military, Trump said on his Truth Social platform in mid-February.

Starmer has described the base as one of the UK's most significant contributions to its security partnership with the United States.