Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed he is moving British military assets to the Middle East after Britain was excluded from Friday night’s defensive operation against Iranian missiles. The Prime Minister said he is “moving assets” to the Middle East ahead of the G7 summit in Canada, which is now set to be dominated by the latest breakout of conflict in the region.
Speaking on his jet to Ottawa, Sir Keir was asked whether he will bolster Britain’s presence in the Middle East after Iran called for UK, US and French bases to be targeted. He replied: “These are obviously operational decisions and the situation is ongoing and developing and therefore I’m not going to get into the precise details, 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.”
He added that both he and David Lammy have been in contact with countries in the region, including the Iranians, pressing for de-escalation.
The Prime Minister described his phone call with Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu as “good and constructive”, which included discussions about the “safety and security of Israel”.
While Sir Keir refused to get into what military assets will be moved to the Middle East, it’s understood they include refuelling aircraft and fast jets.
Military reinforcements will also be used to provide contingency support should escalation continue.
Preparations began on Friday morning, with the RAF already having jets based in the region.
However, the UK was not involved in Friday night’s defensive operation to protect Israelis from incoming Iranian missiles, some of which exploded in civilian areas.
The US has confirmed that its military did help shoot down Tehran missiles, using ground-based systems, though US fighter jets and warships remain unused.
Sir Keir refused to rule out the use of British jets in future responses against Iran.
The PM also refused to confirm whether he had been made aware of Israel’s planned strikes on Iranian nuclear sites beforehand.
He said he was “not going to start answering what goes around on intelligence channels” when probed on whether the news had come as a ‘shock’.
The PM has confirmed he spoke with President Trump yesterday on pushing for de-escalation in the region, noting “widespread concern about escalation”.
“De-escalating and finding a route to de-escalation is hugely important, challenging though it is, so that’s what I talked to President Trump about”.
President Trump’s response to Israel’s ‘Operation Rising Lion’ called for giving Iran the “chance to make a deal”, but warned that the US has military might it can wield in the region.
Taking to Truth Social, the US President wrote: “There has already been great death and destruction, but there is still time to make this slaughter, with the next already planned attacks being even more brutal, come to an end.”
“Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left.”
Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel has said: “We must use our influence and diplomacy to work closely with all of our allies in the region and beyond to resolve conflicts, and deliver peace and stability in the Middle East.”
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said “warm words” would not stop Iran, and that she did not see Israel’s action as an escalation.
“If Israel sees Iran getting nuclear weapons, I don’t think it should sit back and put its feet up and say ‘Well, we’re de-escalating’.
“Because the person, the country, that will escalate is Iran, and that would be absolutely disastrous for the entire world.”