Politics
UK did not help defend Israel from Iran, Downing Street confirms
Foreign Office yet to announce plans to evacuate British civilians
June 16, 2025 13:39
Foreign Office yet to announce plans to evacuate British civilians
June 16, 2025 13:39The British military has not been involved in defending Israel from the Iranian attack, a Downing Street spokesperson told journalists on Monday.
They said that the deployment of of RAF Typhoon jets and other British military assets to the Middle East was aimed at providing “contingency support throughout the Middle East, should escalation continue”.
However, they added that “the UK has not participated in military action in the defence of Israel in recent days”.
Asked if UK forces would do so in future, the spokesperson said they did not want to “give a running commentary on operational issues”.
British jets helped intercept Iranian missiles and drones aimed at Israel by Tehran in April and October last year.
In March this year, armed forces minister Luke Pollard spoke of the role “our RAF played in thwarting Iran’s co-ordinated missile and drone attack on Israel in April 2024, and again in October 2024”, and said it “demonstrates our commitment to Israel’s security and to de-escalating regional tensions”.
Although he said that the government recognised Israel’s right to defend itself, the No10 spokesperson reiterated that the government wished to see de-escalation and diplomatic solution to the conflict between Iran and Israel.
“We are clear that a widening of this conflict would be in nobody's interest,” they added.
An unknown number of British citizens are currently stranded in Israel because of the closure of the country’s airspace as a result of the conflict.
Asked if there were any plans to evacuate British nationals, a Foreign Office spokesperson told the JC: “The FCDO advises against all travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. British nationals should continue to follow the advice of local authorities.”
American media personality Caitlyn Jenner, originally in Israel to attend the Tel Aviv Pride Parade as a guest of honour, was able to leave the country through Israel’s land border with Jordan.
The British military has in the past been deployed to evacuate civilians during times of conflict in the Middle East.
In 2006, during the Second Lebanon War between Israel and Hezbollah, around 4,500 British citizens were extracted from Beirut by Royal Navy ships.
Foreign Office sources told the JC that they were “considering all options in fast moving situation”.
A Downing Street spokesperson said that the Foreign Office’s advice was being kept under constant review: “We recognise this is a fast-moving situation that has the potential to deteriorate further, quickly and without warning.
"That is why we are encouraging British nationals to read the FCDO’s advice on if you're affected by a crisis abroad. We also advise British nationals to read our advice on how to deal with the crisis overseas. And we are keeping all our advice under constant review, and we plan for a variety of developments as you would expect.”
The JC understands that Finchley and Golders Green MP Sarah Sackman has been inundated with hundreds of messages from constituents after she urged her constituents to contact her if they “or a loved one” were stranded in Israel.
Moreover, an estimated 100,000 Israelis are stranded outside the country as a result of the closure of the country’s airspace, a decision which the country’s transport minister Miri Regev defended.
She told Israeli news site Ynet: “I’m aware of the distress, but we won’t take a risk that brings a plane and, God forbid, there will be an incident that could result in 300 people being killed.”
David Lammy, the foreign secretary, is due to give a statement to update MPs on the conflict later today.