UK to deploy fighter jets to Middle East amid Iran-Israel tensions, says Starmer
Britain is deploying assets, including fighter jets, to the Middle East amid tensions between Iran and Israel, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Saturday while heading to Canada for G7 talks.
"We are moving assets to the region, including jets, and that is for contingency support," Starmer told reporters travelling with him on his plane to Ottawa.
The UK leader said he had spoken with both US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu since Israel launched its first attacks on Iran early Friday, hitting military and nuclear sites. According to officials, dozens have been killed, including top army and Revolutionary Guards commanders, as well as civilians. Iran has responded with barrages of drones and missiles fired at Israel overnight Friday into Saturday.
Starmer said the situation was "fast moving" as well as "intense." "We're having ongoing discussions with our allies all of the time, both myself and (Foreign Minister) David Lammy... who also spoke to the Iranians," he said. "Our constant message is de-escalate, and therefore everything we're doing, all discussions we're having are to do with de-escalation."
The UK leader said his talk on Friday with Netanyahu had been "good and constructive" and had "included discussions about the safety and security of Israel."
Foreign Secretary Lammy said earlier Saturday that he was "alarmed" by further strikes overnight. "We must urgently de-escalate & prevent any further harm to civilians," Lammy said in a post to social media, adding he had spoken to his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi "to urge calm."
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Express Tribune
2 hours ago
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Rising Lion, True Promise: the Israel-Iran shadow war goes hot
After much back and fro posturing, Israel finally attacked Iran in the wee hours on June 13, 2025. Their last skirmish was on October 26, 2024, when Israel retaliated for Iran's October 1, 2024, missile strike that comprised some 200 missiles, fired on Israel proper. The Israeli attack this time was more complex entailing Israeli Air Force (IAF), missiles, drones (RPVs), and sabotage. Just like in October last year, some 200 IAF jets and support aircraft, in first phase attacked over 100 targets all over Iran, focusing primarily on the Natanz nuclear enrichment site. The assault codenamed the 'Rising Lion' was an integrated operation between IDF and Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, and was echeloned in waves. As a first, SEAD operation (suppression of the enemy air defence) was undertaken ingeniously through smuggled systems, agents and commandos over Irani soil, reflecting the depth of Mossad's penetration in Iran. Aims and objectives The professed Israeli aim for the attack was to eliminate Iran's ability to acquire nuclear weapons in the next some month, and the potential threat these might pose to Israel. Besides de-nuclearisation, Israel also aims to 'facilitate' regime change in Tehran, where it feels the clerical order is not popular and poor economy and prolonged sanctions have resulted in mass discontent. Strategies Israel had been 'shaping the environment' for this 'existential' assault by constant military and diplomatic pressure over Tehran; clandestine operations targeting Irani leaders and scientists; inserting cyber tools to damage Irani nuclear plans; and in the last nearly two years degrading Iran's 3H (Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthi) proxies through constant and consecutive overt and covert military, cyber and sabotage operations including assassinations. During skirmishes last year, IDF gauged the effectiveness of Irani air defence (AD), identified military weak spots, assessed regime's response and ascertained its pain threshold. The IDF targeting-trio spanned Iran's nuclear facilities, leadership, and military infrastructure. It also aimed at regime weakening, fomenting unrest, and gaining and maintaining regional strategic, diplomatic and military ascendancy, physically and psychologically. Iran is constrained to protect and conserve the current political dispensation and re-establish deterrence vis-à-vis Israel. Operations Tel Aviv launched a coordinated military operation using a mix of airpower, UAVs, cyber tools and covert sabotage operations, deep inside Iranian territory. IDF's targets included the Natanz, Iran's main underground nuclear fuel enrichment facility, Revolutionary Guards (IRGC or Pasadaran-e-Inqilab) HQ in Tehran, command bunkers, military housing and scientists' accommodations. Israel also targeted missile development complexes and air defence HQ, Command and Control (C2) centres near Tehran, Khondab, Isfahan, Shiraz and Khorramabad etc. Up to 80 Iranian losses included around 20 senior military officials including Maj Gen Hossein Salami, Commander-in-Chief, IRGC, Maj Gen Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Armed Forces Staff, Maj Gen Gholam Ali Rashid, Operational Commander, Khatam HQ, Ali Shamkhani, Adviser to Supreme Leader and up to nine nuclear scientists. Targeting strategy Israeli offensive also included Cyber/Electronic Warfare, which disrupted Iran's air defence network and communications grid, causing temporary blackouts near Natanz and Isfahan. Satellite uplinks and radar feeds were also jammed for several hours. Israel reportedly spent years preparing for attacking Irani nuclear and missile programs, including building a drone base inside Iran, smuggling precision weapons, systems and inserting commandos. The drones were activated overnight and directed at Irani surface-to-surface missile launchers aimed at Israel. The smuggled systems targeted Irani AD, helping in SEAD and giving IAF air supremacy. This audacious operation was the result of tight joint planning between IDF and Mossad. Mossad commandos deployed precision missiles near anti-aircraft sites in central Iran. IAF used F-16I, F-15I and F-35I aircraft in the 100-plane initial offensive that needed midair refueling for the over 3,000 km roundtrip. Israel has only about 7 KC-707 Boeing refuellers, insufficient for sustained and protractive offensive without the US help. The air flotilla also lacked heavier munitions like the bunker busting GBU-43/B and commensurate bombers to carry this payload, for effectively destroying the underground nuclear infrastructure. Israeli offensive is also dependent upon the use of airspace in Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the GCC countries, depending upon its targeting strategy. Technically, the warplanes use light warheads apparently because of the route restrictions and the consequently reduced payloads. Due to Jordanian and Saudi airspace restrictions, IDF warplanes will take the relatively longer route over southern Syria and Iraq (under 2,000 km one way) to attack south of Iran. Loitering and attacking possibly from Iraqi airspace remain a possibility to enhance warplanes' time to remain airborne and avoid Irani AD. Both the US-supplied F-16 (cruising range 340 miles/450 kms) and F-35 (around 1,200 kms) need air-to-air refuelling, limiting their reach. Israel could have hit the targets of its choice in Iran through Jericho missile system, especially Jericho-3 with a range over 4,800km, however, that missile system reportedly is not yest field-tested, and Jericho-2 is short in range (around 1,700km). And through an aerial attack, IDF demonstrates its audacity and potency. Iran's response Iran on Friday morning responded to the Israeli aggression through its own Operation Wada-e-Sadiq (The True Promise) in echelons, initially launching over 100 drone systems, and then augmenting its punch using around 200 ballistic and cruise missiles, some in the hypersonic categories aimed mostly at military targets. By Saturday morning reports suggested, some missiles had penetrated the Israeli AD, the Iron Dome causing men and material losses. Most Irani drones and missiles were intercepted. The Irani offensive continues. Iran claims to have downed two F-35 fighters and capturing one female IAF pilot. Besides, in 'missile economics', Irani arsenal comprises relatively inexpensive missiles (around US $0.15 million apiece) compared to the IDF's limited array of very expensive missiles (US $2-3 million apiece). Iran's tactics of swarming the 'Iron Dome' with inexpensive drones, allowing its ballistic and cruise missiles to sneak-in, is also a formidable military capability that Israel cannot fight without Western especially the US and UK's support, as was the case during the last year. Irani compulsions Iran under its prolonged clerical order is weakened due to expensive skirmishes with Israel, its own over-reach in the Middle East, loss of influence and relevance by its proxies, and economic difficulties due to continued sanctions. Aggressive and robust response, hence, is an Irani compulsion for regime survival, domestic support and regional relevance. In his twilight years, Supreme Leader Khamenei faces a myriad of domestic challenges, Israel being a major one. The shift from fighting through proxies to direct military involvement with Israel is politically and economically costly. Moreover, the growing domestic noise for Iran to go nuclear also puts the ruling clerics in a dilemma, as nuclearisation would mean ceding control of nukes to the military ultimately, much to their chagrin. International reaction Whereas Houthis vowed to target Israeli/US naval assets in the Red Sea, Hezbollah reportedly decided to stay neutral under pressure from the Lebanese government. Hamas and Hezbollah had been severely degraded by the IDF in its over 600 days military operations, and their consequent loss of logistics through Syria. Iraq, Jordan, Iran and Israel closed their airspaces, forcing aviation traffic to reroute over Gulf and Caspian zones. Commercial shipping is also rerouted given the mobilisation of IRGC naval assets in the Strait of Hormuz, and the repositioning of the US 5th Fleet. Oil Markets saw volatility and a sharp (+8.1%) rise for feared closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Gold and defence stocks surged, and global risk premiums increased. Major countries like China, Russia, Turkey, Japan, Germany, the UK etc, and international organizations the UN and the EU have called for restraint and offered mediation. Looking ahead The conflict is likely to remain limited, with the US/Israeli Combo trying to force an unfavourable nuclear deal on Iran that would effectively cap and roll back its nuclear programme. Military degradation of Iran under the tacit approval and support of Washington is, therefore, likely to continue. Irani nuclear capability, although degraded, is likely to survive the onslaught due to lack of heavy bombers with the IDF, non-availability of heavier ordnance, IAF's compulsion to revisit frequently in fighter jet mode as against bombing runs, and the tyranny of geography i.e the distance that necessitates refuelling and decreases payloads. The almost two and a half years long military operations have also imperceptibly set fatigue among the IDF rank and file. Unfavourable international reaction, lack of domestic popularity for continued military involvement, and the consequent stresses within the Israeli society would play out in short to mid-term, limiting the scope and effects of operations. Mass mobilisation and the refusal by the ultra-orthodox Jews to undertake compulsory military service under draft, is already causing instability in the Israeli politics. Netanyahu, who plays up on fear and warmongering may soon be cast aside given his destructive politics. Tehran may paradoxically emerge united and standing behind its religious leadership, at least in the near future. This conflict and the recent Indo-Pakistan skirmish are redefining the nature of warfare, shifting focus from the conventional mass operations to multi-dimensional, multi domain niche operations in technology and stand-off weaponry. The US Secretary Rubio distanced the US from Israeli operation, presumably to protect US personnel and interests against attacks and backlash from Iran and Tehran's proxies. This is also necessitated due to domestic sentiment within the US, where US support for Israel's genocidal war in Gaza is deeply contested. Although Washington shares the Israeli objective against Iran's nuclearisation, it prefers the politico-diplomatic and economic coercion of Iran, rather than the military means that Tel Aviv is using. America's robust economic, military and diplomatic support would, however, continue for Israel, given the pervasive, deep-seated presence of the Jewish influence and control over the contemporary US policies. Inam ul Haque is a retired Pakistan Army major general who writes on defence, global affairs and political sociology. He can be reached at tayyarinam@ and his Twitter handle @20_Inam All facts and information are the sole responsibility of the author
Express Tribune
3 hours ago
- Express Tribune
PM decries Israeli aggression as a threat to regional peace
Listen to article Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday held telephonic conversations with Iranian President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian and Turkish President Tayyip Recep Erdogan and discussed with them the Israeli aggression. The prime minister said Pakistan stood resolutely in solidarity with the brotherly people and the government of Iran in the face of Israel's unprovoked and unjustified aggression. He strongly condemned Israeli attacks against Iran, that violated its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and were in complete defiance of the UN Charter and international law. Iran had the right to self defence, as provided under Article 51 of the UN Charter, he added. While expressing heartfelt condolences to President Pezeshkian over the loss of precious lives in the attacks, the prime minister recalled Pakistan's support to Iran at the UN Security Council's emergency meeting, held on Friday. The PM denounced Israel's blatant provocations and adventurism as a grave threat to regional and global peace and stability. He also strongly condemned Israel's unabated genocidal campaign against the valiant Palestinians, carried out with complete impunity. He urged the international community and the United Nations to take urgent and credible steps to put an end to Israel's aggressive behaviour and its illegal actions. He stated that Pakistan was fully committed to promoting peace in the region and stood ready to play its role in this context. President Pezeshkian thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for Pakistan's support and solidarity with Iran at this difficult time, particularly at the UN Security Council. He said this gesture was reflective of the close and brotherly relations between the two countries. He apprised the PM about Iran's perspective on the crisis with Israel and urged the international community, particularly the Islamic countries, to work together closely to counter these threats. Both leaders agreed to remain in close contact. The Iranian president criticised what he described as the United States' "dishonesty" for supporting Israel while Washington and Tehran were engaged in nuclear talks. "The Zionist regime's coordination with the United States in its aggression against Iranian territory in the midst of negotiations is a sign of America's dishonesty and unreliability," Pezeshkian said in a phone call with the prime minister, according to the Iranian presidency. He warned that there would be a "more severe and powerful response" if Israel continued to strike his country. "The continuation of Zionist aggression will be met with a more severe and powerful response from the Iranian armed forces," Pezeshkian told the prime minister, according to the Iranian presidency. The prime minister also held a telephone conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkiye and the two agreed that "Israel's unprovoked aggression against Iran" was "a blatant violation of international law and a threat to regional peace". Both the leaders discussed the deeply worrying situation in the region in the wake of Israel's unprovoked and unjustified aggression against Iran. The two leaders agreed that Israel's military strikes had violated Iran's sovereignty and territorial integrity, in clear contravention of the UN Charter and international law, while seriously jeopardizing regional and global peace and stability. They also denounced Israel's brazen military aggression against the brave Palestinian people, that continued with complete impunity. The two leaders emphasized that the international community and the United Nations must act collectively and urge Israel to immediately end its aggressive posturing and illegal actions against Iran, Palestine and other countries in the region. While renewing Pakistan's firm and unwavering commitment to upholding international peace, security and stability, the Prime Minister said that Pakistan would continue to play a constructive role for peace, both as member of the UN Security Council, as well as in other forums such as the OIC. In this regard, the prime minister said that Deputy Prime Minister & Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar would represent Pakistan at the upcoming OIC CFM meeting in Istanbul. He also congratulated President Erdogan for being decorated by the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum (ICYF). OIC session Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif called on the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to hold an emergency meeting to develop a joint strategy in response to Israel's ongoing aggression. Speaking in the National Assembly, the minister condemned Israel's brutal actions, especially its military aggression against Iran. He called it a serious threat to regional and global peace. "Palestinian children are being killed, yet there are more protests in non-Muslim countries than in Muslim nations," he remarked with regret. He warned that if the Muslim world doesn't act together, every country will eventually become a target. "The way Israel has targeted Yemen, Iran, and Palestine shows a larger plan. Most Muslim nations are already facing security risks. Strong leadership is needed now," he said. He highlighted how the world was closely watching Pakistan's coastal borders during recent tensions, and how Pakistan's armed forces defended the nation bravely. "Our navy's response forced the enemy to retreat," he said. The defence minister said that while Pakistan's military strength is commendable, the economy must also be strong. He praised Pakistan's youth, especially cyber experts, for delivering a strong blow to India during a recent cyber conflict. "Our young people shut down lights in stadiums, disrupted IPL matches, and even affected dams. Their skills surprised the world," he said. He added that the recent military operation Bunyanum Marsoos was a turning point, both strategically and for national morale. He said Pakistan's response to Indian attacks was firm and timely. "We struck back with full force," he said. Members of parliament have called for an urgent meeting of the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) to stop the Israeli war in Gaza and now in Iran. They said that the attack by Israel on Iran is an open terrorist act. They said that it is the need of the hour that all Muslim states should show their unity against Israeli aggression. (With additional input from News Desk)
