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| We stand with Israel, says PM after Iranian attack | We stand with Israel, says PM after Iranian attack |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has condemned Iran's attack on Israel, saying he is "deeply concerned that the region is on the brink". | Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has condemned Iran's attack on Israel, saying he is "deeply concerned that the region is on the brink". |
| "We stand with Israel and we recognise her right to self-defence in the face of this aggression," he said in a televised address from Downing Street. | "We stand with Israel and we recognise her right to self-defence in the face of this aggression," he said in a televised address from Downing Street. |
| The Israeli military said around 180 missiles were fired from Iran on Tuesday evening, most of which were intercepted. | |
| Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it launched the missiles in retaliation for recent attacks that killed the leaders of Hezbollah and Hamas, as well as a senior Iranian commander. | Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it launched the missiles in retaliation for recent attacks that killed the leaders of Hezbollah and Hamas, as well as a senior Iranian commander. |
| Calling on Iran to stop its attacks, Sir Keir said: "Together with its proxies like Hezbollah, Iran has menaced the Middle East for far too long, chaos and destruction brought not just to Israel, but to the people they live amongst in Lebanon and beyond. | |
| "Make no mistake, Britain stands full square against such violence. We support Israel's reasonable demand for the security of its people." | |
| Sir Keir was on the phone to his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu when the Iranian attacks began. | |
| The two men had been speaking for around 15 minutes – about the prospect of missiles being fired by Tehran – when Netanyahu had to abandon the call because he had been told the attacks were under way. | |
| During their call, Sir Keir also underlined the importance of a ceasefire in Lebanon and Gaza. | |
| When asked if the UK was prepared to be involved militarily to help Israel defend itself against Iran, Sir Keir hinted that it was. | |
| He told reporters it was an "evolving situation but what I will say is that we stand with Israel and her right to self-defence and any relevant updates will be provided in due course". | |
| Sir Keir has previously praised the last Conservative government for its decision to sanction UK military support for Israel, when the country came under attack from Iranian drones and missiles. | |
| In April, then-prime minister Rishi Sunak said British fighter jets shot down a number of drones fired at Israel from Iran. | |
| In his statement, the prime minister repeated his advice to British nationals to leave Lebanon, warning the situation was becoming "increasingly grave". | |
| He added: "If you have the means to leave, the time is now. Do not wait." | |
| Britons in Lebanon have been advised to register their presence with officials on the government's website and a UK-chartered plane is leaving Beirut on Wednesday. | |
| But some told the BBC they had received no confirmation or details about their booking on the government-chartered flight, despite paying for a seat. | |
| As of last week, there were thought to be between 4,000 and 6,000 UK nationals, including dependants, in Lebanon. |