Britain didn’t present army assist to Israel’s assault on Iran or assist down Iranian drones, the UK authorities has stated, because the prime minister known as for all events to urgently de-escalate after the airstrikes that have been launched in a single day.
The prime minister’s spokesperson stated that “the UK did not participate in Israel’s strikes overnight” and indicated the RAF had not taken half in any army motion to knock out Iranian drones attacking Israel in a counterattack launched by Tehran within the morning.
The US has additionally stated it was not concerned within the assault on Iran – describing the Israeli motion as unilateral – however warned Iran and its allies to not goal US pursuits or personnel within the area.
The UK was concerned in Israel’s defence in April 2024 when RAF Typhoons have been concerned in capturing down drones fired by Iran, and to a extra restricted extent in October 2024 throughout a ballistic missile assault by Tehran.
The response comes amid a hardening of the British line in opposition to Israel, with ministers having condemned its help blockade of Gaza and positioned sanctions on two members of the Israeli authorities.
Keir Starmer stated on Friday: “The reports of these strikes are concerning and we urge all parties to step back and reduce tensions urgently. Escalation serves no one in the region. Stability in the Middle East must be the priority and we are engaging partners to de-escalate. Now is the time for restraint, calm and a return to diplomacy.”
Sarah Jones, the business minister, advised Sky Information the federal government was “doing everything we can to urge restraint and to try and de-escalate the situation”.
Israel stated on Friday it had attacked the targets inside Iran as a result of Tehran had begun to construct nuclear warheads. With Iran’s supreme chief, Ali Khamenei, threatening “severe punishment”, the Israeli army stated on Friday it was attempting to intercept 100 drones that Iran had launched in opposition to it.
With world leaders calling for restraint on either side, British ministers and officers met on Friday morning to resolve their response. Individuals briefed on these conferences stated within the early morning the UK had determined to not assist shoot down the drones or intervene militarily, just for the place to grow to be much less clear later.
Britain has justified earlier interventions on the grounds it was coming to Israel’s defence, offering a small contribution alongside the US and Jordanian air forces. The US stated it shot down 70 drones in April 2024.
Since then the British authorities has grow to be more and more angered by Israel’s actions, particularly within the Gaza Strip, the place Israeli forces have killed scores of Palestinians attempting to entry humanitarian help.
In a coordinated response, European leaders known as for fast de-escalation on Friday and urged in opposition to retaliation. The European Fee president, Ursula von der Leyen, described the Israeli assaults as “deeply alarming”.
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A diplomatic decision was “more urgent than ever” for regional stability and world safety, von der Leyen stated. Germany’s chancellor, Friedrich Merz, echoed the decision, saying Berlin would use “all available diplomatic means” to keep away from escalation.
The goal should stay “that Iran not develop any nuclear weapons”, Merz added. France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, additionally appealed for restraint, including that Paris had “repeatedly condemned” Iran’s nuclear programme.
In that context, Macron stated, France “reaffirms Israel’s right to defend itself and ensure its security”. Macron, Merz and Starmer spoke by phone on Friday morning and agreed to stay “in close contact”, Berlin stated.
The Italian overseas minister, Antonio Tajani, stated he had known as his Israeli counterpart to induce de-escalation and would make the identical request to Iran’s overseas minister later. “I will insist on support for diplomacy,” Tajani advised Italian TV.
Some leaders have been overtly essential of Israel’s actions. The Spanish deputy prime minister Yolanda Díaz accused the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, of “dragging the world towards an escalation of war”. She known as for “respect for international law, immediate sanctions against the Israeli regime and a multilateral route toward a just and lasting peace”.
Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, described the assaults as a “clear provocation”, including that “Netanyahu and his massacre network” have been “setting our entire region and the world on fire”.
