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| UK sends more RAF jets to Middle East as PM urges de-escalation | UK sends more RAF jets to Middle East as PM urges de-escalation |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| A file image of an RAF Typhoon aircraft | A file image of an RAF Typhoon aircraft |
| More RAF jets are being sent to the Middle East amid intense fighting between Israel and Iran, the prime minister has said. | More RAF jets are being sent to the Middle East amid intense fighting between Israel and Iran, the prime minister has said. |
| Sir Keir Starmer said the military aircraft, including Typhoons and air-to-air refuelers, were being sent "for contingency support across the region". | Sir Keir Starmer said the military aircraft, including Typhoons and air-to-air refuelers, were being sent "for contingency support across the region". |
| He said the situation was fast-moving and there were ongoing discussions with allies, adding: "The constant message is de-escalate." | He said the situation was fast-moving and there were ongoing discussions with allies, adding: "The constant message is de-escalate." |
| The UK last announced it had deployed jets to the region last year, when the government said British aircraft had been playing a role in preventing escalation. | The UK last announced it had deployed jets to the region last year, when the government said British aircraft had been playing a role in preventing escalation. |
| Sir Keir made the remarks as he travelled to Canada for the G7 summit, where he said the weekend's "intense" developments would be further discussed. | Sir Keir made the remarks as he travelled to Canada for the G7 summit, where he said the weekend's "intense" developments would be further discussed. |
| He later met Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney – a former Bank of England governor - in Ottawa for talks on security and trade. | He later met Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney – a former Bank of England governor - in Ottawa for talks on security and trade. |
| Both will head later to the Canadian province of Alberta for the summit, with the Middle East uppermost on the agenda. | Both will head later to the Canadian province of Alberta for the summit, with the Middle East uppermost on the agenda. |
| German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Donald Trump are among those gathering there for three days of talks. | German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Donald Trump are among those gathering there for three days of talks. |
| The two prime ministers visited a pub in Ottawa | The two prime ministers visited a pub in Ottawa |
| The prime minister is neither ruling in nor out the prospect of British jets helping Israel – as happened in both April and October last year. | The prime minister is neither ruling in nor out the prospect of British jets helping Israel – as happened in both April and October last year. |
| Iran has warned the UK, France and America that were they to support Israel, their ships and bases in the region would be regarded as legitimate targets. | Iran has warned the UK, France and America that were they to support Israel, their ships and bases in the region would be regarded as legitimate targets. |
| "We've already been moving assets to the region, including jets, and that is for contingency support across the region," Sir Keir told reporters. | "We've already been moving assets to the region, including jets, and that is for contingency support across the region," Sir Keir told reporters. |
| "Our constant message is de-escalate, and therefore everything we're doing, all discussions we're having are to do with de-escalation." | "Our constant message is de-escalate, and therefore everything we're doing, all discussions we're having are to do with de-escalation." |
| The prime minister would not be drawn on whether the UK would be involved in defending Israel. | The prime minister would not be drawn on whether the UK would be involved in defending Israel. |
| "I had a good and constructive discussion with Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu yesterday [Friday], and that included discussions about the safety and security of Israel, as you would expect, between two allies," he said. | "I had a good and constructive discussion with Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu yesterday [Friday], and that included discussions about the safety and security of Israel, as you would expect, between two allies," he said. |
| He reiterated that the UK had "long-standing concerns" about Iran's nuclear programme and recognised Israel's right to self-defence. | He reiterated that the UK had "long-standing concerns" about Iran's nuclear programme and recognised Israel's right to self-defence. |
| Iran has threatened to target UK, French and US military bases in the region if they offer Israel help to stop Tehran's strikes. | Iran has threatened to target UK, French and US military bases in the region if they offer Israel help to stop Tehran's strikes. |
| Speaking on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Chancellor Rachel Reeves would not comment on where the British jets had been sent exactly. | |
| But she said it was a "fast-moving" situation and it would be a "dereliction of duty" to not do everything possible to protect UK personnel and bases in the Middle East. | |
| "It's right as a precautionary measure to send assets including jets," Reeves said. | |
| When asked how the UK might support Israel militarily, Reeves said "the thing that we have done in the past is defend Israel from attacks". | |
| "We have never been we've never been involved in attacking with Israel," she said. "Those two things are very different." | |
| The chancellor said "Israel has a right to defend itself" and that the UK was "very concerned about Iran's nuclear ambitions". | |
| She urged British nationals in the region to follow Foreign Office advice, which she said was "likely to change as the situation on the ground changes". | |
| Appearing on the same programme, shadow chancellor Mel Stride said it was "the right thing" for the UK to send jets. | |
| He said "we've got assets out there they need to be protected given Iran has suggested they might be under threat". | |
| Asked if he supported Israel's action against Iran, Stride said: "Yes, on the basis we can't allow Iran to be able to become a nuclear power". | |
| Live: Israeli planes will fly over Tehran, Netanyahu says, as Iran warns 'more severe' strikes coming | Live: Israeli planes will fly over Tehran, Netanyahu says, as Iran warns 'more severe' strikes coming |
| What are the worst-case scenarios? | What are the worst-case scenarios? |
| Israel's endgame may be regime change in Iran - but it's a gamble | Israel's endgame may be regime change in Iran - but it's a gamble |
| What we know about Israel's attacks on Iran | What we know about Israel's attacks on Iran |
| Sir Keir spoke to Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Saturday afternoon, Downing Street said. | Sir Keir spoke to Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Saturday afternoon, Downing Street said. |
| "They discussed the gravely concerning situation in the Middle East and agreed on the need to de-escalate," a spokesman said. | "They discussed the gravely concerning situation in the Middle East and agreed on the need to de-escalate," a spokesman said. |
| Tensions between Israel and Iran have ramped up in recent days. | Tensions between Israel and Iran have ramped up in recent days. |
| Iran launched a fresh attack on Israel on Saturday night, while the Israeli military said it was continuing to strike military targets in Tehran. | Iran launched a fresh attack on Israel on Saturday night, while the Israeli military said it was continuing to strike military targets in Tehran. |
| Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has threatened a "more severe" response if Israel doesn't stand down. Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz earlier warned that "Tehran will burn" if Iran continues to launch missiles. | Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has threatened a "more severe" response if Israel doesn't stand down. Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz earlier warned that "Tehran will burn" if Iran continues to launch missiles. |
| Iranian state TV reported 60 people had been killed in a strike in Tehran, while in Israel, officials said three people had been killed and dozens injured in strikes. | Iranian state TV reported 60 people had been killed in a strike in Tehran, while in Israel, officials said three people had been killed and dozens injured in strikes. |
| Washington DC and Tehran were due to resume talks on Iran's nuclear programme on Sunday, but the talks have now been cancelled, mediator Oman said. | Washington DC and Tehran were due to resume talks on Iran's nuclear programme on Sunday, but the talks have now been cancelled, mediator Oman said. |