British forces involved in defending Israel from Iranian attacks, says Healey | Israel

According to the British Defense Secretary, British forces were involved in preventing the Iranian missile attack on Israel.

In a carefully worded statement on Tuesday evening, John Healey said: “British armed forces have played their part this evening to prevent further escalation in the Middle East.”

The statement did not provide military details about how British forces may have helped repel the barrage of 180 ballistic missiles fired by Iran in an attack that caused limited damage.

US defense officials confirmed that US destroyers had shot down several missiles fired by Iran in the eastern Mediterranean. And after a similar attack by Iran on Israel in April, it was later confirmed that RAF Typhoons had shot down Iranian drones from Akrotiri airbase in Cyprus.

Healey visits Cyprus to meet troops preparing for the possibility of an evacuation of British citizens from Lebanon.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Tuesday evening he was “deeply concerned that the region is on the brink” and reiterated calls for British nationals in Lebanon to leave amid escalating violence in the Middle East.

In a televised statement from Downing Street, Starmer said Iran had “threatened the Middle East for far too long” and called on the country to “stop these attacks”.

“We stand with Israel and recognize its right to self-defense in the face of this aggression,” he said.

“Iran must stop these attacks. Iran, along with its proxies like Hezbollah, has threatened the Middle East for far too long, bringing chaos and destruction not only to Israel, but also to the people among whom they live in Lebanon and beyond.

“Make no mistake, Britain stands firmly against this violence. We support Israel’s legitimate demand for the security of its people.”

Iran said it launched the attacks in retaliation for the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut last week, the Associated Press reported.

The escalation came after Israel launched a ground offensive in Lebanon, conducting what it called “limited, local” operations.

The Iranian attack on Israel began when Starmer spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, Downing Street said earlier.

In his statement on Tuesday evening, Starmer said he was “deeply concerned that the region is on the brink” and “deeply concerned about the risk of misjudgment”.

He reiterated advice to the British in Lebanon to leave Lebanon, saying: “We are doing everything we can to get people out, but the situation is extremely unstable.”

A charter flight to get Brits out of the country is due to depart from Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport on Wednesday, costing £350 per seat.

Lebanon's Middle East Airlines, the only commercial airline still flying from Beirut, is offering a regularly scheduled flight to Britain on Wednesday.

Iran's attack on Israel was condemned by British politicians.