Starmer says Israel has right to self-defence from Iran's 'unacceptable aggression' as he calls for 'restraint'

2 October 2024, 18:50 | Updated: 2 October 2024, 19:17

Keir Starmer has said that Israel has the right to defend itself from Iran's "unacceptable aggression", but urged restraint.

The Prime Minister told reporters on Wednesday: “No one wants a regional war," adding that "the attack by Iran last night... is not to be tolerated".

The RAF was peripherally involved in Israel's defence against a barrage of 180 missiles from Iran on Tuesday night.

Two Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets and a Voyager air-to-air refuelling tanker were present, but none needed to engage any targets.

Defence Secretary John Healey said the planes "played a wider part in wider deterrence". He added that the situation across the Middle East was "extremely serious", adding that "de-escalation remains our focus."

The US said it also "intercepted multiple" weapons.

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Meanwhile Joe Biden said that Israel has the right to respond to Iran's bombing attack on Tuesday night - but must not target nuclear sites.

The president told reporters: "We'll be discussing with the Israelis what they're going to do, but all seven of us [G7 nations] agree that they have a right to respond but they should respond proportionally".

Asked if he would support Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear sites, Mr Biden said "no".

He added that more sanctions would be imposed on Iran following the launching of 180 missiles into Israel on Tuesday night.

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It comes after it emerged that eight Israeli soldiers had been killed during the IDF ground operation in Lebanon.

Captain Eitan Itzhak Oster, 22, a squad commander in the "Egoz" unit, was killed during combat, the IDF said.

It is understood he was killed when his unit was ambushed by Hezbollah in a village in southern Lebanon.

The 22-year-old was a team commander in the Egoz unit, an elite commando unit specialising in guerrilla warfare.

Israeli forces are understood to have been in clashes with Hezbollah gunmen in ‘close range’ encounters.

Hezbollah have described the fighting as ‘the first round of war’.

The Times reported the soldiers were killed in an ambush close to the Hezbollah tunnels after crossing the border.

A ‘significant retaliation’ is being prepared by Israel after the ballistic missiles rained down on targets in a strike last night.

Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed that Iran “will pay” for launching a missile strike on Israel as the Middle East teeters on the edge - and Israel may target the country's oil production.

Iran is the third biggest producer of crude oil in the OPEC group of oil producing countries and is heavily reliant on its oil and gas exports to prop up its economy.

Olaf Scholz, the chancellor of Germany said Iran has risked ‘setting the entire region on fire’.

“Iran is risking setting the entire region on fire, this must be prevented at all costs,” he said. “Hezbollah and Iran must immediately cease their attacks on Israel.”

Sir Keir said he was "deeply concerned" the Middle East is "on the brink".

In a televised address from Downing Street last night, the Prime Minister said Britain "stands with Israel".

Iran fires rockets into Israel

The attack, in retaliation for Israel's campaign against the Hezbollah group in Lebanon, marks a significant escalation in the Middle East conflict.

In response to the attack, The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, said on Tuesday: "Iran made a big mistake tonight - and it will pay for it.

"There is also a deliberate and murderous hand behind this attack - it comes from Tehran. We will stand by the rule we established: whoever attacks us - we will attack him."

He added that the attack had "failed", amid claims from Tehran that said some 90% of the missiles found their targets.

Iran have since responded to Netanyahu's statement by saying Israel would suffer the "vast destruction" of its infrastructure should it attack Iran, according to state media. 

The military also warned that if Israel's allies directly intervene, they should expect their interests and bases in the region to face "strong attack".

This comes after Mr Biden hailed the military capabilities of the US and the IDF - after a massive Iranian missile attack on Israel was thwarted.

Speaking before a briefing on Hurricane Helene, the outgoing US president spoke to reporters about the missile attack that the Iranian regime had launched upon Israel.

Biden said: "At my direction, the US military actively supported the defence of Israel - and we are still assessing the impact.

But based on what we know now, the attack appears to have been defeated and ineffective - and this is testament to Israeli military capability and the US military.

"It’s also a testament to intensive planning between the United States and Israel to anticipate and defend against the brazen attack we expected.

"Make no mistake, the United States is fully, fully, fully supportive of Israel.

"And I spent the morning of part of the afternoon in the Situation Room - and meeting with my whole national security team, consulting with the Israelis indirectly in terms of their impact on us.

"And the national security team has been in constant contact with their Israeli counterparts, and it will continue to be brought to me throughout the day."

Biden's intervention came after Sir Keir warned that the Middle East is 'on the brink' in a televised Downing Street address following Iran's missile attack on Israel.

In an address to the UK, Mr Starmer 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.

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"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.

Today there was a chartered commercial flight out of Beirut later for British citizens wanting to leave Lebanon.

The UK government's organised it - with foreign secretary David Lammy insisting it's "vital" to "leave now".

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