Starmer confirms UK moving jets to Middle East but calls for 'de-escalation'

The UK is moving jets and other military hardware to the Middle East, to provide “contingency support”, the prime minister has briefed reporters as he flies to the G7 summit of the leaders of the world’s richest democracies.Sir Keir Starmer also said that the focus of his diplomacy at the summit, which will take place in Canada, would be to put pressure on Israel and Iran to “de-escalate”, to scale back their attacks on each other.

He said: “We do have long standing concerns about the nuclear programme that Iran has. We do recognise Israel’s right to self-defence. But I’m absolutely clear that this needs to de-escalate.”

For British people, he warned that “you can see the impact already on the economy and oil prices.” The wholesale price of oil has surged since Israel launched its air strikes on Iran, and then Tehran’s retaliation.

Starmer refused to define the circumstances in which British fighter jets would be scrambled and deployed, citing security concerns.

An explosion is seen during a missile attack in Tel Aviv on Friday night. / Credit: Tomer Neuberg via AP

Iran has threatened attacks on British bases if the UK were to become involved. Unlike the US, the UK has not as yet helped Israel shoot down Iranian drones or missiles.

Preparations to increase UK military resources in the Middle East began on Friday morning. Refuelling aircraft have already been deployed and “fast jets” are on their way, ITV News understands.

The UK already has RAF jets in the region as part of its Operation Shader contribution.

Starmer said that he has had telephone conversations with France’s President Macron, Chancellor Merz of Germany, the Saudi leader Mohammed Bin Salman, America’s President Trump and the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The British prime minister said that the “levels of concern” among world leaders – especially those in the Middle East – about the conflict “are very high.”

He singled out his conversation with the Saudi leader in that context, and he said that his call with President Trump was all about lowering the tension between Israel and Iran.

The G7 summit starts in Alberta on Monday. Before that, today and tomorrow, Starmer will have meetings in Ottawa with the new prime minister of Canada, Mark Carney, will be chairing the summit.

Asked whether the G7 leaders could be expected to agree a meaningful statement or communique to persuade Israel and Iran to cease hostilities, he said it was too early to say.

Any such statement that was simultaneously critical of the Israeli army’s killing of civilians and children in Gaza, and its controversial and chaotic new food distribution system, would not be signed by Trump, British diplomat’s say.

Starmer reiterated to reporters that he is wedded personally to the creation of a Palestinian state, the so-called two-state solution, as the only viable route to long term stability in the region.