UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak urged for calm on Sunday, confirming that British fighter jets had downed Iranian drones amid Tehran’s unprecedented assault on Israel.
Israel and its allies nearly intercepted all missiles and drones launched by Iran in this first-time attack on Israeli soil.
Sunak, aligning with global leaders, called for moderation while Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi cautioned against any hasty Israeli counteraction to the strikes, signaling a significant rise in Middle East tensions.
“The consequences for regional stability would have been severe had this attack succeeded,” Sunak stated at Downing Street.
He affirmed the UK’s support for Israel’s and the region’s security, which he deemed vital for Britain’s own safety, emphasizing the need for composed responses.
Sunak announced plans to collaborate with allies to mitigate the situation and his anticipation for discussions with G7 leaders later in the day.
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Additionally, he verified that the British Royal Air Force had intercepted several Iranian assault drones, corroborating that the UK aided Israel and other allies in thwarting the attacks.
Following the Iranian threats, the UK’s Defence Ministry dispatched extra fighter jets and air refuelling tankers to the region late Saturday.
These reinforcements supported the ongoing British mission in Iraq and Syria against the Islamic State group, the Ministry of Defence noted.
