UK sends fighter jets to Middle East as Israel-Iran conflict escalates

Typhoon fighter jets are among British military assets being sent to the Middle East under emergency plans to respond to the conflict erupting between Israel and Iran.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced fast jets, and refuelling planes, will provide “contingency support” to aid regional security.

The UK already has RAF planes, ships and military bases in the region – which Iran has threatened to target should British forces support Israeli attacks.

Further refuelling aircraft have now been deployed from UK bases and additional fast jets will also be sent to the region, it is understood.

Pressed on whether the UK was preparing to intervene in the conflict after Iran threatened to strike French, US and British bases, Starmer did not rule it out, but stopped short of revealing what he would be prepared to do to intervene in the conflict.

No10 said the jets will be poised to provide support in the event of escalation.

On his way to Canada, where the Prime Minister is set to meet with Mark Carney before attending the G7 Summit, Starmer said the situation was “intense” and “fast-moving” and his priority was de-escalation.

Speaking to journalists on the plane, Starmer said he would “always make the right decisions for the UK”.

He added: “We are moving assets to the region, including jets, and that is for contingency support.”

“I will be clear-eyed in relation to our duties and obligations and my duties as Prime Minister.”

Starmer said he could not reveal operational details but stressed again that his priority was de-escalation

“You understand this is not only fast-moving, it’s intense,” the Prime Minister said. “We’re having ongoing discussions with our allies all of the time, both myself and David Lammy, as you’ve seen, who also spoke to the Iranians.

“Our constant message is de-escalate, and therefore everything we’re doing – all discussions we’re having – are to do with de-escalation.”

Last year, the UK assisted Israel with strikes against rebel groups, including the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen.

But the Government said it provided no military support for hits against Iran in recent days.

Starmer refused to be drawn on why the UK did not aid Israel in shooting down Iranian missiles – pointing out that he had made it clear his priority was to reduce tensions.

It comes amid reports the UK was not informed about strikes against Iran ahead of time, in the wake of a widening split between the allies over Israel’s military actions in Gaza.

Starmer, who spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, said the conversation between the two leaders had been “good and constructive” and “included discussions about the safety and security of Israel”.

He refused to say whether he knew about the missile strikes ahead of time, merely saying such issues are discussed “intensely with our allies”.

Discussions about the conflict at the upcoming G7 summit are expected to be “intense”, Starmer said.

The Prime Minister has already spoken with his counterparts in France, Germany and US President Donald Trump – all of whom will attend the meeting of leaders in Canada.

In his discussion with Trump, on Friday, Starmer said the two leaders shared “widespread concern about escalation”.

“On the question of de-escalation, I’ve obviously discussed that with President Trump yesterday, as you would expect, and what the possible routes to de-escalation are given the situation we find ourselves in,” he said.

“And I think there’s a widespread concern about escalation, everybody can see what’s going on and the impact it can have on the region and beyond the region is obvious.

Starmer is expected to raise British concerns about the nuclear program in Iran, as well as the conflict’s links to the Israeli actions in Gaza – which the UK government has criticised – as well as pressing for an end to fighting.

“The G7 happens to be a good occasion to have those face-to-face discussions. But those discussions are going on anyway,” he said.