British jets help protect Israel from Iran missile and drone attack

A strong British and American response helped defend Israel from the Iranian drone and missile onslaught.

A Typhoon aircraft takes off from RAF Akrotiri. Picture: UK Ministry of Defence/Getty Images

Britain worked closely with the United States to defend Israel in the early hours of Sunday and will be an important voice in the G7 meeting to formulate a diplomatic response to the “unacceptable” attacks by “reckless” Iran.

Both the Rishi Sunak government and the Labour opposition condemned Iran’s aggression soon after Iran launched a wave of 185 drones, 36 cruise missiles and 110 surface to air missiles headed towards Israel.

With cross party support, the UK deployed its fleet of Typhoon fighter jets and a refuelling tanker RAF Voyager KC2 from Akrotiri, Cyprus. Other British Typhoons and US assets based at RAF bases in the UK also appeared to be active.

RAF military personnel scrambled to “backfill” the American military operations in Iraq and Syria to allow US planes to concentrate on countering the waves of drone attacks launched by Iran.

The British were also tasked to down missiles and drones launched by Iran while patrolling over Iraq and North East Syria.

Israel’s Channel 12 said that US and UK fighter jets shot down Iranian drones near the Syria-Iraq border. As well, Jordanian jets had downed dozens of Iranian drones flying across northern and central Jordan heading for Jerusalem. France was also involved with helping patrol airspace the Israel military said.

Israel also faced co-ordinated launches from Iraq and Yemen. France was also involved with helping patrol airspace the Israel military said.

The British have been the US’s strongest ally in the region including conducting air strikes against the Houthis in Yemen to disrupt and degrade the Iranian proxy maritime attacks which have created shipping chaos in the Red Sea.

But Britain and American deployment of warships in the area to protect commercial shipping failed to stop an Iranian Revolutionary guards hijacking on the weekend of the MSC Aries, a Portuguese-flagged and Israeli-owned container ship in the Strait of Hormuz.

UK Defence minister Grant Shapps described the Iranian drone and missile attacks as “senseless” and said it destabilised regional security. He said: “Additional Royal Air Force jets and air refuelling tankers have deployed to the Middle East to bolster Operation Shader, the UK’s existing counter-Daesh operation in Iraq and Syria.

“In addition, the jets will intercept airborne attacks within range of our existing missions.”

The British had taken over areas that the US had been operating in to allow them to help defend Israel against the Iranian attack.

The fighter jets were deployed from Akrotiri in Cyprus shortly before midnight local time.

Mr Sunak said Britain will stand up for the security of Israel and also back Jordan and Iraq, describing Iran’s actions as a “reckless attack”.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak records a statement about the Iranian attacks on Israel overnight, at 10 Downing Street on Sunday. Picture: Benjamin Cremel/WPA Pool/Getty Images

Mr Sunak said in a statement from 10 Downing Street: “I condemn in the strongest terms the Iranian regime’s reckless attack against Israel. These strikes risk inflaming tensions and destabilising the region. Iran has once again demonstrated that it is intent on sowing chaos in its own backyard.

“The UK will continue to stand up for Israel’s security and that of all our regional partners, including Jordan and Iraq.”

He added: “Alongside our allies, we are urgently working to stabilise the situation and prevent further escalation. No one wants to see more bloodshed.”

Mr Sunak confirmed on Sunday the RAF had shot down a number of Iranian drones to help defend Israel.

He said the fallout for regional stability would be “hard to overstate” had Iran’s attack on Israel been successful.

He said he had chaired an emergency Cobra meeting with Cabinet ministers and military on Friday to agree a plan of action, authorising additional RAF jets, including fast attack typhoons to deploy to the RAF base in Cyprus in readiness for any assault by Iran.

“This is a dangerous and unnecessary escalation which I have condemned in the strongest terms,” Mr Sunak told Sky News. “Thanks to an international coordinated effort, which the UK participated in, almost all of these missiles were intercepted, saving lives not just in Israel but in neighbouring countries like Jordan as well.”

He added: “I can confirm that our plans did shoot down a number of Iranian attack drones.”

Mr Starmer condemned the Iranian regime’s decision to subject Israelis to unacceptable attacks.

The Labour leader added: “The international community has been united in urging restraint and we regret that yet again Iran has chosen a different, dangerous path. We continue to stand up for Israel’s security and that of our other partners in the region, including Jordan and Iraq. We support all measures designed to restore calm as we must do all we can to prevent a wider regional war.“

The British Ministry of Defence said British Royal Air Force jets were tasked to intercept any airborne attacks within range of existing missions.

It added that the British government has been working with partners in response to increased Iranian threats and the growing risk of escalation in the Middle East, and encouraged de-escalation to prevent further attacks.

As well as a US- led G7 meeting to formulate a co-ordinated response to the concerning conflict, the UN Security Council will convene early Monday Australian time for an emergency meeting requested by Israel.

Israel said attacks “pose a grave threat to international peace and security” and want the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps designated as a terrorist organisation.