Starmer sends UK jets into the skies as Iran strikes Israel and US bases

Sir Keir issued a statement as Iran retaliated after the US launched an assault on the Tehran administration

Keir Starmer says that British planes “are in the sky today” in the Middle East after Iran struck targets across the Middle East in retaliation for US-Israeli military action against Tehran.

American and Israeli forces launched an assault on Iran on Saturday morning in what both nations characterised as a “pre-emptive” operation against a Tehran administration allegedly pursuing nuclear weapons development.

The offensive triggered a response from Iran, with missiles reportedly fired at Israel and nations throughout the Middle East.

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Britain did not participate in the Iranian strikes, and the Government has instructed UK citizens in certain areas of the Middle East to “shelter in place”.

Addressing the media on Saturday afternoon, Sir Keir stated that British aircraft in the region were “in the sky” as part of “co-ordinated regional defensive operations to protect our people, our interests and our allies”.

In a collective statement with the French and German leaders, Sir Keir condemned Iran’s response “in the strongest terms”.

The three leaders stated: “Iran must refrain from indiscriminate military strikes. We urge the Iranian leadership to seek a negotiated solution. Ultimately, the Iranian people must be allowed to determine their future.”

Sir Keir’s remarks follow his chairing of the Government’s emergency Cobra committee meeting before holding discussions with allies including France’s President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The joint statement added that the three nations were “in close contact” with international partners including the US and Israel.

In his own statement from Downing Street, Sir Keir said he had also spoken to Middle Eastern leaders as he urged Iran to return to the negotiating table.

He said: “It is vital that we prevent further escalation and return to a diplomatic process.

“We want to see peace and security and the protection of civilian life.

“Iran can end this now. They should refrain from further strikes, give up their weapons programme and cease the appalling violence and repression against the Iranian people.”

Saturday’s assault follows rising tensions across the region, with the US deploying a fleet of warships and aircraft to pressure Tehran.

Discussions between the US and Iran concerning Tehran’s nuclear programme concluded on Thursday without reaching an agreement.

On Saturday, Israeli authorities stated the strikes – designated Operation Roaring Lion by Israel and Operation Epic Fury by the US – were designed to “thoroughly degrade the Iranian terrorist regime and to remove existential threats to Israel”.

In a video uploaded to his Truth Social platform, US President Donald Trump described the attacks as “a noble mission”.

He said Iran had “attempted to rebuild their nuclear programme and to continue developing long-range missiles that can now threaten our very good friends and allies in Europe, our troops stationed overseas and could soon reach the American homeland”. Dame Emily Thornberry, chair of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, stated it was “absolutely right” that the UK had not participated in the strikes.

She further commented that there was “no legal basis for this attack”, and told the Press Association that the UK should “prepare for shipping, oil facilities and military bases with Western troops, including British, to be attacked”.

Sir Keir revealed that security measures at British bases had been heightened to “their highest level”, whilst the Government was “reaching out to UK nationals in the region” to provide support.

It has been reported that the UK previously declined US requests to utilise the Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean for launching strikes on Iran.

Richard Tice of Reform UK questioned whether such a request had been denied again, suggesting that a refusal could have “seriously damaged the special relationship”. He commended the US and Israel for acting to “protect us all in the West by destroying the dangerous Iranian regime”.

His leader, Nigel Farage, urged the Prime Minister to “change his mind on the use of our military bases and back the Americans in this vital fight against Iran”.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch expressed her support for the strikes on Iran, labelling the Tehran government as a “vile regime” that “carries out attacks on the UK and on our citizens”, seeks to develop nuclear weapons and “brutally repressed pro-democracy protests only months ago and murdered thousands of its own people”.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called on the Prime Minister to exclude the possibility of British bases being utilised for “future unilateral US strikes”.

He said: “The Iranian people deserve to live free from a brutal regime. Donald Trump’s unilateral and illegal military action won’t deliver freedom, peace and security. It will only unleash more bloodshed.”