UK moves jets to Middle East

Speaking to reporters on the plane to the G7 summit, Starmer reiterated his call for de-escalation, saying he had held a series of calls with other world leaders in the hours after Israel’s attack on Iran, including the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Donald Trump.

“I will always make the right decisions for the UK,” he said, when asked about his reaction to Iran’s threats against the bases of any western nations that came to Israel’s aid. “We are moving assets to the region, including jets, and that is for contingency support in the region.”

Downing Street said it would involve additional fast jets joining those already in the region, and more refuelling aircraft to “provide contingency support throughout the Middle East, should escalation continue”. Preparation began on Friday morning, following Israel’s attack on Iran’s nuclear programme and its top military leadership.

Asked whether the UK could be involved in helping Israel deflect retaliatory drone and missile strikes from Iran – which Tehran has said would make UK bases in the Middle East a target – the prime minister declined to say

These are obviously operational decisions and the situation is ongoing and developing and therefore I’m not going to get into the precise details,” he said. “But we are moving assets, we’ve already been moving assets to the region, including jets, and that is for contingency support across the region. So that is happening.”

It is understood that, so far, the UK has not participated in any military action and has not helped to knock out Iranian missiles targeted at Israel.