U.S. Sends Fighter Jet To Diego Garcia, Exposing British Lies About Not Aiding Attack On Iran (Photos)

Illustrative image. (U.S. Central Command)

The United States military has deployed fighter jets at Diego Garcia, just days after reports saying that the United Kingdom was against using the Indian Ocean island base in any attack against Iran.

The six F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets appeared in satellite images released by China’s Mizarvision on February 25. It is unclear when exactly they were deployed there.

The same images also show two P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, three KC-135 Stratotanker takers, two C-130-type planes, which are reported to be MC-130J Commando IIs equipped for special operations, in addition to four cargo aircraft, one C-5 Galaxy and three C-17 Globemaster III, at Diego Garcia.

Click to see full-size image. (MizarVision)

An Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer can be also seen in one of the images docked at the port of the base. Destroyers of this class are typically armed with Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles, but more importantly equipped with the Aegis Combat System, which has anti-missile capabilities. Thus, the destroyer deployed at Diego Garcia is likely tasked with defending the island from Iranian missiles.

Click to see full-size image. (MizarVision)

The Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia, leased to the U.S. by the United Kingdom, enables rapid power projection, bomber operations, logistics, and surveillance across the Middle East, Indo-Pacific, and beyond. It typically hosts around 2,500–4,000 total personnel, with U.S. military troops numbering roughly 300–500.

The base is located 3,795 kilometers away from Iran, and while this distance may seem long, it is very suitable for bomber operations as it is close enough to allow regular raids on the Islamic Republic and far enough to protect military assets deployed there.

The deployment of the American F-16s at Diego Garcia came just a week after The Times reported that the UK is refusing to grant permission to the U.S. to use British bases to strike Iran.

The report linked U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent decision to withdraw support for the UK plans to give up sovereignty over the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean — which includes Diego Garcia — to the British refusal.

According to the British daily, U.S. plans included the use of Diego Garcia and the RAF Fairford base in England, both of which can only be used to strike if the UK government agrees. However, British PM Keir Starmer is concerned the Iran strike might violate international law.

Last week, Trump wrote on Truth Social that Diego Garcia might be needed were Iran not to agree to a deal, “in order to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous regime — an attack that would potentially be made on the United Kingdom, as well as other friendly countries.”

“Prime Minister Starmer should not lose control, for any reason, of Diego Garcia,” Trump stressed.

The U.S. military build up at Diego Garcia suggests that this “American-British crisis” is nothing but a farce, and may even be a coordinated attempt to deceive Iran.

While F-16s can’t operate from Diego Garcia against Iran due to the long distance, they were likely deployed there to guard the base from Iranian drones. This indicates that the base will indeed be used by the U.S. in any attack on the Islamic Republic.

The fact no American bombers have been sent yet to Diego Garica does not mean that the base will not be used as some may think.

The B-2 stealth strategic bombers that attacked Iranian nuclear sites during the 12-day war in June of last year flew all the way from the U.S. mainland. That was a one-off strike, however. Any future American attack on the Islamic Republic will reportedly include a longer aerial campaign, and for that bombers will likely be deployed right before or even after the first strike to achieve the element of surprise.

It’s worth noting that after the war last year the UK led efforts to increase pressure on Iran, working with Germany and France to reinstate international sanctions via the “snap back” mechanism from the 2015 nuclear deal abandoned by the U.S. during Trump’s first term.

And despite all reports suggesting that the UK wants nothing to do with any U.S. attack on Iran, the Royal Air Force boosted its presence in the Middle East in recent weeks.

The British sent a squadron of Typhoon fighter jets to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, where U.S. forces are also deployed, and at least six F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jets to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, which already hosted an unknown number of Typhoons.

The deployment of these fighter jets gives the UK the ability to quickly join any attack by the U.S., or even Israel, against Iran.

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