Britain deploys fighter jets to the Middle East amid Israel-Iran war
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the urgent deployment of military aircraft to the Persian Gulf region due to the deteriorating situation and threat of a major conflict.
Photo: Number 10, CC BY 2.0
The United Kingdom has deployed additional military forces to the Middle East due to hostilities between Israel and Iran.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced this on June 14, according to Reuters. He stated that London is taking preventive measures in case of emergencies and reinforcing its presence to protect British interests and allies in the region.
On Friday morning, crews at UK military bases began preparing for deployment. Tanker aircraft have already been sent to the region, and fighter jets will join them shortly.
Starmer emphasized that he is in constant contact with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other international partners.
The British Prime Minister also noted that London has long been concerned about Tehran’s nuclear program and recognizes Israel’s right to self-defense. At the same time, he stressed that the main goal is to prevent further escalation of the conflict.
It should be noted that yesterday, The Telegraph, citing sources in the UK Ministry of Defence, reported that British forces did not take part in Israel’s strikes on Iranian targets and will not assist in repelling potential Iranian retaliatory attacks, as they did in 2024.
RUSI expert Matthew Savill stated that London has no intention of getting involved in military conflict, but noted that British presence might increase if there is a threat to facilities, such as those in Bahrain.
According to the publication, the UK is considering deploying additional forces to the RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus.