Unidentified drones reported over shared Indian Ocean base Diego Garcia

British defense officials acknowledged reports of unidentified drones over Diego Garcia, a strategically important U.S.-U.K. military installation in the Indian Ocean, but they provided few details about the sightings.

The U.K.’s defense ministry confirmed the drone incursions in comments to The War Zone, which first reported the incidents Monday.

Responding to a Stars and Stripes email, a U.K. defense ministry spokesperson declined to provide additional details, citing operational security concerns.

“As a matter of operational security, we do not discuss specific force protection measures or security procedures at U.S. military installations. We remain vigilant in protecting U.S. personnel and facilities,” U.S. Pacific Command told Stars and Stripes Wednesday.

The base has taken on renewed importance this year. In March, Britain’s defense secretary at the time, John Healey, said the U.K. had approved a U.S. request to use Diego Garcia to strike Iranian missile sites targeting ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Part of the remote Chagos Archipelago, the remote island is about 1,000 miles from Sri Lanka, the closest large chunk of land, and 2,000 miles from Somalia.

The base has a deep-water port, airfield and communications and surveillance capabilities supporting operations across the Middle East, East Africa and South Asia, according to the British government.

It’s unclear when and what kind of drones were spotted, how many were involved and whether authorities had identified their operators.

Reports of the sightings initially surfaced Friday on an unofficial Air Force-focused Facebook page, which said drones had been flying near the installation’s fuel farm and that a curfew had been imposed. Stars and Stripes could not independently verify those claims.

The sightings also come amid growing concern over unauthorized drone flights around military installations, including ones in Europe.

NATO member countries have blamed Russia for incursions in various places across the Continent. Moscow has denied responsibility.

It remains unclear whether officials believe the Diego Garcia sightings are connected to that broader trend or whether the drones posed a threat to the installation.

In March, Iran fired two intermediate-range ballistic missiles at Diego Garcia, marking Tehran’s first operational use of intermediate-range weapons.

Neither of the missiles hit the base, which is about 2,500 miles from Iran. One missile failed in flight and a U.S. warship fired an interceptor at the other, The Wall Street Journal reported at the time.

The U.S. and Iran have been at war since late February, when U.S.-Israeli strikes degraded Iran’s military and killed many of its senior leaders.