US deploys F-15 fighter jets to Diego Garcia amid rising tensions

The US Air Force has deployed F-15 fighter jets to Diego Garcia to safeguard American military assets stationed on the strategically vital Indian Ocean island.

The deployment comes as part of an ongoing effort to reinforce the US military’s presence in the region, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

A US official confirmed that the F-15s were sent to provide force protection for assets located on the island. However, the exact number of aircraft deployed remains unspecified. The War Zone, a military news outlet, reported that at least four F-15s were dispatched to protect critical assets, including B-52H bombers. Diego Garcia, a key base within the British Indian Ocean Territory, serves as an essential location for both UK and US forces.

The island hosts Space Force operations, serves as a critical port for US Navy vessels—including nuclear submarines—and shelters a Sealift Command Prepositioning Ship Squadron. The War Zone reported that the heightened defense measures were prompted by increasing threats from Iran and its regional proxies, particularly as Tehran continues to develop missile and drone capabilities, including long-range kamikaze drones and missile-launching vessels. 

Commander Matthew Comer, spokesperson for US Indo-Pacific Command, confirmed the F-15 deployment to The War Zone, stating that the aircraft were stationed on the island specifically to protect military assets. According to an unnamed source cited by The War Zone, at least four of the fighter jets have been deployed to defend a range of assets, including B-52H bombers, five KC-135 refueling tankers, a C-17 cargo plane, and a white-colored airliner. 

Satellite imagery confirmed the presence of these aircraft, though it remains unclear whether they are the older F-15C/D Eagles, which the US Air Force is gradually retiring, or the more advanced F-15E Strike Eagles. The strategic importance of Diego Garcia has grown significantly in recent years, particularly as Iran has become an increasingly active threat in the region. 

Tehran has demonstrated significant advances in missile and drone technology, including the use of launchers within standard shipping containers. This growing threat has led to an uptick in U.S. military deployments and defense initiatives on the island. In addition to the F-15 deployment, Diego Garcia has seen an influx of other high-profile US military assets. Earlier this year, six B-2 Spirit stealth bombers arrived on the island, later conducting airstrikes on Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen.

By Naila Huseynova