'The region is on the brink': Starmer warns against escalation in Downing Street address after Iran missile attack
1 October 2024, 20:52 | Updated: 1 October 2024, 23:23
Sir Keir Starmer has warned that the Middle East is 'on the brink' in a televised Downing Street address following Iran's missile attack on Israel.
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In an address to Britain, the Prime Minister said: "The Iranian Regime has launched over 200 missiles against civilian targets in Israel.
"It’s too soon to assess the impact fully. But I utterly condemn this attempt by the Iranian regime to harm innocent Israelis, to escalate this incredibly dangerous situation, and push the region ever closer to the brink.
Read More: Iran has launched missile strike on Israel, says Israeli military
"It cannot be tolerated. We stand with Israel and we recognise her right to self-defence in the face of this aggression.
Starmer earlier called for a ceasefire in the Middle East after a call with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu - as the IDF vows retaliation for Iran's ballistic missile attack.
Continuing, Sir Keir added: Iran must stop these attacks together with its proxies like Hezbollah. Iran has menacwed the Middle East for far too long. Chaos and destruction brought not just to Israel, to the people they live amongst in Lebanon and beyond.
"Make no mistake, Britain stands full square against such violence. We support Israel's reasonable demand for the security of its people."
The Prime Minister confirmed he had been in discussions this week with Israeli PM Netanyahu, King Abdullah of Jordan, French President Emmanuel Macron and Chancellor Scholz.
He also told reporters he had spoken to PM Najib Mikati of Lebanon and President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority in attempts to deescalate the Middle East.
He added: "I am deeply concerned that the region is on the brink and I'm deeply concerned about the risk of miscalculation.
"The situation in Lebanon is increasingly grave. I want to repeat my advice to British nationals who are still in Lebanon: You must leave now. You should register your presence with government officials on our website.
"We have a charter flight. We're doing everything we can to get people out. But the situation is extremely volatile, so if you have the means to leave, the time is now. Do not wait."
The address came after the Prime Minister spoke to Israeli PM Netanyahu, and to the King of Jordan, Abdullah II, on Tuesday night after more than 200 Iranian missiles rained down upon Israel.
Sky News reported that Starmer was on the phone with Netanyahu when the first missiles hit.
Defence secretary John Healey also condemned Iran's attacks on Israel in a statement posted by the UK Ministry of Defence as he thanked British personnel involved in the unspecified operations.
He said the UK "stands fully behind Israel's right to defend its country".
However, it's not clear what role any UK forces played, or whether personnel were involved in shooting down any of the missiles fired by Iran at Israel - as US forces did.
No fatalities have yet been reported in Israel as a result of the attack.
When asked by reporters about the prospect of British military involvement, Sir Keir would not be drawn.
He responded: "This, as you will appreciate, is an evolving situation but what I will say is that we stand with Israel and her right to self-defence and any relevant updates will be provided in due course".
Sir Keir said his diplomatic efforts had been focused on the need to find a political solution.
"We have to find a route to de-escalate on all fronts. And in the end, the only solution here is a political solution. So my calls have been about the importance of creating space and the conditions for that de-escalation and to find that political route forward."
A spokesperson for Keir Starmer said: “The Prime Minister spoke to Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this afternoon, and they discussed the escalating situation across the Middle East.
“The Prime Minister condemned Iran’s attack on Israel today in the strongest terms, which began during the leaders’ conversation, and expressed the UK’s steadfast commitment to Israeli security and the protection of civilians.
“During the call, the Prime Minister also underlined the importance of a ceasefire in Lebanon to allow space for a political solution in line with UNSC Resolution 1701.
“The Prime Minister also raised the situation in Gaza and the importance of a ceasefire and action to bring home the hostages.”
Iran fires rockets into Israel
Addressing the conversation with King Abdullah, the spokesperson added: "The leaders began by underscoring the urgent need for a ceasefire in both Lebanon and Gaza. They both called for de-escalation to prevent the extreme humanitarian situation from worsening.
“The Prime Minister said he will work alongside partners and do everything possible to push for de-escalation and push for a diplomatic solution. The leaders agreed to stay in touch.”
Israel has said that Tuesday night's barrage of hundreds of missiles launched by Iran "will have consequences".
Iran fired around 200 missiles at Israel, in apparent retaliation at Israel's incursion in Lebanon to fight Hezbollah, an Iranian client group.
Early indications suggest that no one was hurt in the Iranian missile attack on Israel. Israeli authorities said that civilians could leave air raid shelters around an hour after the attack began.
Footage and images show missiles in the skies above Israeli cities. The US took part in shooting down some of the missiles.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Daniel Hagari said: "We are on high alert both defensively and offensively. We will defend the citizens of the State of Israel.
"This attack will have consequences. We have plans, and we will operate at the place and time we decide."
Iran said only that it had launched "tens" of missiles at Israel. Several countries, including Israel and Jordan closed their airspace during the attacks.
It comes as Israeli troops operate within Lebanese borders. IDF special forces have been deployed to ‘dismantle’ Hezbollah’s military capabilities “preventing it from carrying out another Oct 7-style attack”, the IDF said.
The IDF released footage today showing troops entering a Hezbollah tunnel network in southern Lebanon at some stage over the last 12 months.
“The troops also uncovered and destroyed underground infrastructure, struck thousands of targets and hundreds of weapons storage facilities, tons of explosives, and hundreds of living areas for operatives, command centres and more,” an IDF statement revealed.
IDF forces have been operating from inside Lebanon’s borders ‘for months,’ an IDF military spokesman said.
Israeli troops find and destroy Hezbollah tunnel
Israeli special forces have carried out more than 70 operations in southern Lebanon over the last year, it has been reported.
A special operations squad of between 20 and 40 soldiers has been working in border areas uncovering tunnel shafts, weapons, operational posts and storage facilities.
The IDF said on Telegram that troops collected "valuable intelligence" and dismantled "advanced weaponry of Iranian origin".
Israeli soldiers prepare for ground operation in Lebanon
The IDF shared a number of videos and photos, purporting to show their discoveries.
Lebanon’s Prime Minister has warned that the latest escalation of Israel's ground invasion means the country is into “one of the most dangerous phases in its history”.
Israel has insisted its ground assault is only targeting Hezbollah strongholds that threaten Israeli communities.
It says "localised and targeted raids" against Hezbollah targets have begun in the border area of south Lebanon.
The UK government says it will charter a commercial flight out of Lebanon - for Britons wanting to leave the country.
British nationals and their spouse or partner, and children under the age of 18 are eligible for the flight.
It made the announcement just before Israel confirmed the ground operation against the militant group.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “The situation in Lebanon is volatile and has potential to deteriorate quickly.“
He later added the situation could become "much, much more dangerous" as he urged Britons to leave.
He chaired a ministerial meeting of the Cobra emergency committee on Monday to discuss the crisis.
There are an estimated 5,000 British citizens in Lebanon and the Government says it is working on "all contingency options".
As massive blasts rocked the capital of Beirut, the Israeli military said it had begun a "limited, localised" operation in southern Lebanon.
"These targets are located in villages close to the border and pose an immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel," it added.
It comes after heavy artillery fire was reported in towns on Lebanon's southern border.
Some Lebanese Armed Forces troops are reportedly repositioning near the border as Israel warned that it would proceed with the next phase of its fighting with Hezbollah.
The Israel Defence Forces also launched small ground raids against Hezbollah on Monday night ahead of the "next phases of combat" on its northern border with Lebanon.
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Dr Einat Wilf on the Israel-Hezbollah conflict
It is understood Israel began bombing the border areas to try and soften the ground ahead of crossing into Lebanon as it escalates its war with Hezbollah.
The IDF also declared three of its northern communities as a "closed military zone", suggesting that more Israeli forces could be sent into Lebanon to fight the Iran-backed militant group.
US officials said the White House has been informed about the raids, which were described as "limited operations focused on Hezbollah infrastructure near the border."
One million people have been displaced from their homes in Lebanon since Israel began its bombardment just days ago.
Thousands have been pictured crossing the border into Syria as they desperately try to escape.
At the same time, the UK government has chartered a commercial flight out of Lebanon in a bid to help British nationals leave the country ahead of an ‘imminent’ Israeli incursion, the Foreign Secretary has announced.
British nationals and their spouse or partner, and children under the age of 18 are eligible for the flight.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “The situation in Lebanon is volatile and has potential to deteriorate quickly.“
"The safety of British nationals in Lebanon continues to be our utmost priority.
“That’s why the UK government is chartering a flight to help those wanting to leave. It is vital that you leave now as further evacuation may not be guaranteed”
The flight is due to leave Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport on Wednesday.
British nationals in Lebanon will be sent information on how to book a seat on the flight.
Vulnerable British nationals and their spouse or partner, and children under the age of 18, will be prioritised for this flight, the Foreign Office says
British military assets have also been deployed to Cyprus and the eastern Mediterranean in case an evacuation is required, although ministers and officials have stressed that Britons should leave immediately.
On Monday, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said Sir Keir Starmer has been "very, very clear" that British nationals "should leave now, particularly whilst commercial flights are still available".
The spokesman told reporters: "We're doing everything we can to work with commercial airlines to maximise capacity because we want people to leave, and I understand that there have been extra Middle East Airlines flights leaving Lebanon over the weekend, another scheduled for Tuesday, and we have secured seats for British nationals on those flights."
It is understood around 15 spaces for British nationals were secured on a flight which arrived on Sunday, and a further 40 on the flight due to leave on Tuesday.
The spokesman said the focus is on "securing extra spaces on commercial flights for those who do want to leave and reiterating our calls for those to leave and to register their presence with us and book the first available flights".
‘We are going to invade Lebanon,’ admits IDF spokesman
Earlier on Monday, an IDF spokesperson told LBC that Israel is preparing for a ground invasion of Lebanon.
Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner told LBC's Tom Swarbrick that a "ground operation" in Lebanon was part of a "huge set of tools" that Israel has to help return 60,000 Israeli citizens to their homes in its war-torn northern region.
Meanwhile, Israel's defence minister Yoav Gallant said on Monday that "the next stage in the war against Hezbollah will begin soon".
Lt. Col Lerner said: "We need to make sure that Hezbollah does not have that power to, as a terrorist organisation, terrorise 60,000 Israelis on the border with Lebanon.
"We can do it either through negotiations, or we can do it with military force.
"Currently, we're on the path of extensive military action and operation, and perhaps even with a ground operation which we are planning for because as a military, we need to have the tools in place if instructed to mobilise."
Meanwhile, the Lebanese government itself said that it wanted a ceasefire.
Prime Minister Najib Mikati said: "The key to the solution is to put an end to the Israeli aggression against Lebanon and to revive the appeal launched by the United States and France … in favour of a ceasefire".
The UK government has called repeatedly over the past few days for British citizens in the country to leave. It said on Monday that it is doing everything possible to get British people out.
Former Defence Secretary Grant Shapps defended Israel's military action.
He told LBC: “Israel is in a terrible situation, they have got rockets being fires by Hezbollah on a daily basis, it doesn’t get reported in our news.
"What is this tiny, small democracy, the size of Wales, supposed to do? Just allow these rockets to continually fire at them with no action? They’ve been suffering this for a very long time. Hezbollah haven’t complied with the UN resolution 1701 to pull back from the border.
"I hope this can be over, I support the calls for a ceasefire, but a ceasefire has to work in both directions, the rockets can’t continue.“I understand their right not to be fired on all day long by a bunch of terrorists. Hezbollah are recognised by Britain as a bunch of terrorists.”
The UK government has chartered a commercial flight out of Lebanon in a bid to help British nationals leave Lebanon, the Foreign Secretary confirmed on Monday.
British nationals and their spouse or partner, and children under the age of 18 are eligible for the flight.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “The situation in Lebanon is volatile and has potential to deteriorate quickly.“The safety of British nationals in Lebanon continues to be our utmost priority.
“That’s why the UK government is chartering a flight to help those wanting to leave. It is vital that you leave now as further evacuation may not be guaranteed.”
The flight is due to leave Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport on Wednesday.
British nationals in Lebanon will be sent information on how to book a seat on the flight.Vulnerable British nationals and their spouse or partner, and children under the age of 18, will be prioritised for this flight, the Foreign Office says.
