UK to help Israel in conflict with Iran? Finance minister Rachel Reeves clarifies 'precautionary move'

British finance minister Rachel Reeves declared on Sunday that it might be sending additional military jets to the Middle East as a “precautionary move”, a decision that could potentially support Israel in its conflict with Iran, which has so far seen a significant section of Tehran's top brass killed.

The two nations exchanged fresh fire overnight into Sunday, with the Israeli death toll at 10—and as many as 180 injured. The Israeli attacks, codenamed Operation 'Rising Lion', saw the deaths of more than 20 military commanders and nuclear scientists. 

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Although Reeves has called for an end to the burgeoning Iran-Israel conflict, she also admitted that the UK has, “in the past, supported Israel when there have been missiles coming in”.

“We're sending in assets to both protect ourselves and also potentially to support our allies,” she added, in an interview with Sky News.

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Iran of increasing attacks in the coming days, amid US President Donald Trump pressurising Tehran to agree to a nuclear disarmament deal with Israel that Washington was prepared to mediate, in return for sanctions being lifted on Iran.

However, Trump has also sternly dissuaded Iran from attacking the US, warning them of the “full strength and might of the US Armed Forces”, in a Truth Social post on Sunday.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi claims that Tel Aviv's attacks, which began on Friday, were aimed at sabotaging its (now cancelled) nuclear talks with the US at Oman—which were to take place on Sunday—and claimed that Tehran had been acting out in self-defence. 

Just last year, the UK had been involved in aerial operations that protected Israel by intercepting Iran's missile and drone attacks.

Middle East