UK Government Affirms Non-Involvement in Israel’s Offensive Against Iran

The UK government has stated that it did not provide any military support to Israel during its recent attack on Iran, nor did it assist in intercepting Iranian drones. This clarification comes as Labour leader Keir Starmer urged all parties involved to de-escalate the situation urgently.

A spokesperson for the Prime Minister confirmed, “The UK did not participate in Israel’s strikes overnight,” and noted that the Royal Air Force (RAF) had not engaged in any military actions to counter Iranian drones that were launched in retaliation earlier that morning.

The United States has also distanced itself from the attack on Iran, labeling Israel’s actions as unilateral

Previously, the UK had been involved in supporting Israel, particularly in April 2024 when RAF Typhoons shot down Iranian drones, and to a lesser extent during a ballistic missile attack from Tehran in October 2024.

The UK government has adopted a tougher stance on Israel recently, condemning its blockade of aid to Gaza and imposing sanctions on two members of the Israeli government. In an interview with Bloomberg on Friday, Starmer indicated that further sanctions against Israel would be considered if conditions in Gaza did not improve.

Starmer expressed concern over the reports of Israeli strikes, urging all parties to reduce tensions quickly. He stated, “Escalation serves no one in the region. Stability in the Middle East must be the priority, and we are engaging partners to de-escalate. Now is the time for restraint, calm, and a return to diplomacy.”

Historically, the UK has justified its military interventions as support for Israel, contributing alongside U.S. and Jordanian air forces. The U.S. reported that it intercepted 70 drones in April 2024.

The European leaders also called for immediate de-escalation and urged against retaliation. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the Israeli attacks as “deeply alarming” and stressed the urgency of a diplomatic solution for regional stability and global security.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani indicated he had reached out to his Israeli counterpart to advocate for de-escalation and planned to communicate the same message to Iran’s foreign minister.

Some leaders expressed open criticism of Israel’s actions. Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Díaz accused Netanyahu of “dragging the world towards an escalation of war” and called for respect for international law, immediate sanctions against the Israeli regime, and a multilateral approach to achieving lasting peace.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan characterized the attacks as a “clear provocation,” asserting that Netanyahu and his leadership were “setting our entire region and the world on fire.”