UK jets shot down “a number of drones” launched by Iran in its unprecedented attack on Israel last night, Rishi Sunak has said.
The prime minister called the assault by Tehran a “dangerous and unnecessary escalation”, warning the “fallout for regional stability would be hard to overstate” had it been successful.
Israel said Iran launched 170 drones, more than 30 cruise missiles and at least 120 ballistic missiles on Saturday in an attack that set off air raid sirens across the country.
Follow live updates of Iran’s attack on Israel
Mr Sunak said: “Thanks to an international co-ordinated 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 that the UK sent “additional planes” to the region as part of operations already under way in Iraq and Syria.
“I can confirm that our planes did shoot down a number of Iranian attack drones,” he said.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) had earlier confirmed that several RAF jets and air refuelling tankers had been sent to the region to “bolster Operation Shader” – the UK’s existing counter-Islamic State operation in Iraq and Syria.
However, it was not clear if any drones were shot down, with government minister Victoria Atkins saying on this morning’s media rounds that she is “not in a position to confirm or deny” it.
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Mr Sunak is expected to join US President Joe Biden on a call with G7 leaders on Sunday amid fears of further escalation in the event of a possible Israeli counter-strike.
Labour has said the government should bring forward “further sanctions” on drones and made clear it would support such a move.
Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy told journalists in north London: “I hope as a result of the G7 call today, that the government come forward with further sanctions, and certainly Labour will support them if they choose to do that.
“I’m very concerned that the Shahed 136 drone has been used overnight. It’s a drone that has also been sold by Iran to Russia.”
He added: “It’s time that we stepped up sanctions on those drones, and I hope the government will be coming forward with more plans for that tomorrow.”
The remains of a rocket booster that, according to Israeli authorities critically injured a 7-year-old girl. Pic: Reuters
The assault was launched in response to a strike widely blamed on Israel on an Iranian consular building in Syria earlier this month which killed two Iranian generals.
It marks the first time a direct military assault has been launched by Tehran on Israel despite decades of enmity dating back to the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.
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‘This is a serious act against Israel’
The development threatens to become a major regional escalation after years of shadow wars fought between the two foes as the conflict in Gaza inflames decades-old tensions in the Middle East.
Britain and the US have offered staunch support for Israel, although Tehran has threatened a “heavier” response if Washington cooperates in any further military action.
Israeli military spokesman rear admiral Daniel Hagari said 99% of more than 300 drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles had been shot down outside the country’s borders, with aircraft intercepting more than 10 cruise missiles.
He said a seven-year-old “was severely injured from shrapnel” and there has not been any other known casualties.
