Projectiles being intercepted by Israel near the northern city of Baqa al-Gharbiyye (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
The Ministry of Defence has confirmed British were involved in defending against attack today, though details remain sparse.
has disclosed that UK military staff “played their part” in protecting the Jewish state amidst a heavy onslaught of missiles from Iran, a response to the incursion into Lebanon and the assassination of Hezbollah’s leader. Mr Healey praised the UK’s role in striving to mitigate further conflict in the Middle East and expressed gratitude towards British troops for their “courage and professionalism”. However, he did not go into any detail about what this actually entailed.
This follows Prime Minister Sir ‘s declaration of solidarity with after the Iranian attack.
John Healey, in his statement, said he “completely condemn[s] Iran’s attack against “. He added: “British forces have this evening played their part in attempts to prevent further escalation in the Middle East. I want to thank all British personnel involved in the operation for their courage and professionalism.”
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Secretary of State for Defence, John Healey MP (Image: Tim Merry/Mirror Express)
Previously, the Prime Minister voiced his “deeply concerned that the region is on the brink” and reiterated calls for British citizens in Lebanon to evacuate as violence in the Middle East intensifies. In related news, British individuals leaving Lebanon are expected to embark on a government-chartered flight back to the UK come Wednesday.
In a statement issued by Downing Street, Sir said Iran has “menaced the Middle East for far too long” and urged the nation to “stop these attacks”. He said: “We stand with and we recognise her right to self-defence in the face of this aggression. Iran must stop these attacks. Together with its proxies like Hezbollah, Iran has menaced the Middle East for far too long, chaos and destruction brought not just to , but to the people they live amongst in Lebanon and beyond. Make no mistake, Britain stands full square against such violence. We support ‘s reasonable demand for the security of its people.”
Iran confirmed it initiated the strikes as a response to the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut the previous week. The situation escalated after commenced a ground offensive in Lebanon, executing what it termed as “limited, localised” operations.
The Iranian assault on started while Sir Keir was engaged in a conversation with ‘s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, as per Downing Street’s earlier announcement. In his statement, Sir Keir expressed he was “deeply concerned that the region is on the brink” and “deeply concerned about the risk of miscalculation”.
Lghting flares fired by Israeli army at the Netzarim Corridor (Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
He reiterated the guidance for Britons in Lebanon to evacuate, noting “we’re doing everything we can to get people out, but the situation is extremely volatile”. A specially arranged flight is set to transport UK citizens from Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport on Wednesday, with seats priced at £350.
Meanwhile, Lebanon’s Middle East Airlines remains the sole commercial airline maintaining flights from Beirut, with a scheduled service to the UK also departing on Wednesday.
The assault on by Iran has drawn sharp criticism from UK political figures. Foreign Secretary David Lammy cautioned against a “cycle of escalation” and stated it would be in “no-one’s interest”, while Tory leader affirmed “we stand unequivocally by ‘s right to defend itself including against Hezbollah in Lebanon”.
Sir engaged with fellow European leaders on Tuesday evening, denouncing Iran’s offensive and echoing the call for a ceasefire in the region. During his dialogue with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, “the leaders agreed that further escalation was in nobody’s interest and that all sides should show restraint”, according to a spokesperson from Downing Street.
Additionally, there was a discussion with French President Emmanuel Macron, where Downing Street reported “the Prime Minister and president agreed that ensuring Israeli security was vital and that there was an urgent need for de-escalation, with all parties needing to show restraint”.
The Prime Minister also presided over a ministerial meeting at Downing Street on Tuesday, discussing the situation in the Middle East.