On Sunday, British finance minister Rachel Reeves indicated that while Britain may consider supporting Israel in its ongoing conflict with Iran, the primary rationale behind the decision to deploy additional military jets to the Middle East centers on safeguarding British bases and personnel.
Overnight into Sunday, Israel and Iran engaged in renewed hostilities, launching fresh attacks against one another. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the attacks conducted by Israel to date pale in comparison to what Iran can expect in the days ahead.
In an interview with the media, Reeves emphasized the need for de-escalation in the ongoing conflict, describing the decision to deploy additional jets to the region as a “precautionary move”.
In response to a question about whether Britain would assist Israel if requested, Reeves stated, “We have, in the past, supported Israel when there have been missiles coming in.”
She stated, “We are deploying resources to ensure our protection while also potentially aiding our allies.”
Last year, Britain played a role in safeguarding Israel against missile attacks originating from Iran. In April, British aircraft successfully intercepted Iranian drones en route to Israel. By October, the UK reported that two of its fighter jets, along with an air-to-air refuelling tanker, played a role in efforts to intercept Iranian missiles. The jets refrained from engaging any targets during the operation.
