The Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia hosts a U.S. military base that would be important for any sustained kinetic campaign against Iran. (Google Earth)A B-52H Stratofortress assigned to the 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron taxis the runway at RAF Fairford, England. (USAF)A similar situation involving permission for the use of Diego Garcia took place shortly before Midnight Hammer. “Prime Minister Starmer should not lose control, for any reason, of Diego Garcia, by entering a tenuous, at best, 100 Year Lease. Despite the controversy over Diego Garcia, the U.S. buildup of forces continues unabated.

Source: The Times February 20, 2026 16:20 UTC