Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has denounced Iran’s attack on Israel.
A statement from No 10 revealed that the missile barrage actually began while Starmer and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were speaking.
A Downing Street spokesperson said in a statement on Tuesday evening: “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.”
Starmer reiterated this point in a televised statement: “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. It cannot be tolerated.”
He contiuned: “We stand with Israel and we recognise her right to self-defence in the face of this aggression. Iran must stop these attacks. Together with its proxies like Hezbollah, Iran has menaced the Middle East for far too long”.
According to the IDF, around 180 missiles were fired towards Israeli territory from Iran. One Palestinian was reported killed by shrapnel in the West Bank and two people were lightly wounded by shrapnel in Tel Aviv.
Anti-missile system fires interception missiles as missiles fired from Iran, as it seen over Jerusalem, on October 1, 2024. (Photo: Yossi Zamir/Flash90) יירוטFlash90
According to No 10, Starmer “also underlined the importance of a ceasefire in Lebanon” amid ongoing escalation between Israel and terrorist group Hezbollah.
On Monday night, Israel began what the IDF called “limited, localized, and targeted ground raids” against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon which they claimed posed “an immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel”.
During his conversation with Netanyahu, Starmer “also raised the situation in Gaza and the importance of a ceasefire and action to bring home the hostages”.
On Monday, the Prime Minister hosted family members of the British citizens who were taken captive or murdered on October 7 in Downing Street, and calling for the hostages to be released by Hamas “immediately and unconditionally”.
Earlier today, Starmer also spoke with Jordan’s King Abdullah II, with both leaders calling for a de-escleation in tensions across the Middle East and for action to prevent the humanitarian situation in Gaza from worsening.
The United States has also condemned the Iranian attack.
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters at the White House: "This is a significant escalation by Iran, a significant event, and it is equally significant that we were able to step up with Israel and create a situation in which no one was killed in this attack in Israel".
He continued: "We have made clear that there will be consequences, severe consequences for this attack, and we will work with Israel to make that the case.”
The JC also understands that the Prime Minister chaired a ministerial meeting this afternoon in Downing Street on the evolving situation in the Middle East.
