The U.S. Air Force has deployed at least four F-15 fighter jets to Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean to provide force protection for military assets on the island.
A U.S. official first disclosed the mission to Air & Space Forces Magazine, though the exact number of aircraft and the specific model of F-15 involved were not revealed.
Satellite imagery from Planet Labs, taken May 16 and reviewed by The War Zone, shows at least four F-15s on the island, along with four B-52H bombers, five KC-135 refueling tankers, a C-17 cargo plane, and a commercial airliner likely transporting personnel. The F-15s appear to be Strike Eagles, based on their paint scheme, and have been on the island since at least May 14.
The F-15s fall under U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, which oversees forces in the region. Commander Matthew Comer, a spokesperson for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, told TWZ: “The F-15s are deployed providing force protection,” without providing further details.
As of press time, it remains unclear what specific intelligence or mission triggered the deployment.
Diego Garcia is a key U.S. military base, jointly operated with the United Kingdom. It supports long-range bomber missions, hosts U.S. Navy ships and submarines, and houses pre-positioned supplies for rapid deployment. It also plays a role in U.S. Space Force operations.
In March, six B-2 stealth bombers under U.S. Central Command were deployed to the island, where they conducted strikes on Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen. According to open-source reports, the B-2s began departing around May 9, just as the B-52Hs were arriving.
A satellite image from 9 May with 3x B-2 and 4x B-52 bombers in Diego Garcia. Source: MizarVision, a Chinese commercial satellite imagery company. Media reports and open-source flight data and air traffic control monitoring indicate that the B-2 bombers are leaving Diego Garcia. pic.twitter.com/KGa3I2CBXz
— Shahryar Pasandideh (@shahpas) May 11, 2025
The fighter jets began leaving Diego Garcia after President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. would pause airstrikes against the Houthis after they pledged to stop attacking shipping in the Red Sea and nearby waters. However, he emphasized that the U.S. could resume offensive actions if provoked.
“We’re dealing with the Houthis, and that was, I think, very successful,” Trump said. “But maybe tomorrow an attack will be made, in which case we go back on the offensive.”
