Sir Keir Starmer has expressed that the United Kingdom stands in solidarity with Israel and conveyed he is “profoundly concerned” that the Middle East “is on the edge of turmoil”.
In a televised address from Downing Street, the prime minister denounced an assault by Iran that resulted in approximately 200 missiles being launched into Israeli territory.
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Sir Keir, who was on a call with the Israeli Prime Minister at the time of the bombardment, stated the missiles targeted civilian locations and noted it is “premature to evaluate the full consequences”.
“I completely denounce this endeavor by the Iranian government to endanger innocent Israelis, to escalate this extraordinarily perilous situation, and to edge the region closer to catastrophe,” he asserted.
“We stand united with Israel and affirm her right to self-defense amid this hostilities.”
Sir Keir urged Iran to “cease these assaults”, claiming it has “threatened the stability of the Middle East for far too long”.
“I am genuinely worried that the region is teetering on the brink, and I am acutely aware of the potential for miscalculations,” he further commented.
Israel has declared that “there will be consequences” after the attack, which Iran characterized as retaliation for the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon last week.
When asked if the UK was prepared to deploy British military resources to assist Israel in defending against Iran, which supports the militant faction, the prime minister responded: “As you can understand, this is a developing situation.”
“What I will assert is that we support Israel and her right to self-defense. Any pertinent updates will be communicated in due time.”
Sir Keir has also presided over a ministerial discussion in Downing Street on Tuesday regarding the circumstances in the Middle East.
The assault on Israel commenced while Sir Keir was engaged in conversation with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as disclosed by Number 10 earlier this evening.
Although Sir Keir refrained from sharing specifics of the conversation, he indicated that all his talks with global leaders concerning the conflict are centered around the necessity for a ceasefire and a political resolution.
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“My conversations have emphasized the significance of fostering the environment and conditions necessary for de-escalation and finding a political path forward,” he explained to reporters after his televised declaration.
The prime minister reiterated the recommendation for British citizens in Lebanon to evacuate immediately, stating “we’re exerting every effort to assist individuals in leaving, but the situation is highly volatile”.
“If you possess the resources to exit, now is the time,” he urged.
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