UK deploying RAF fighter jets to Middle East amid Israel-Iran tensions, PM Starmer confirms

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced the deployment of additional Royal Air Force jets to the Middle East amid growing fears of regional escalation following intense fighting between Israel and Iran.

Speaking en route to Canada for the G7 summit, Starmer confirmed that RAF Typhoon fighter jets and air-to-air refuelling aircraft were being dispatched as part of "contingency support across the region," Caliber.Az reports, citing UK media.

“This is a fast-moving situation,” the prime minister said, noting that discussions with allies are ongoing. “Our constant message is de-escalate, and everything we are doing is focused on achieving that.”

The UK’s latest military deployment follows previous missions in 2023 and early 2024, when British aircraft were involved in efforts to prevent broader conflict. The government has not disclosed whether the newly deployed jets will engage in any direct operations.

Pressed on whether Britain might assist Israel militarily, as it did during previous flare-ups in April and October last year, Starmer declined to commit either way. However, he confirmed that he held a “constructive” phone conversation on Friday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in which the two discussed Israel’s security concerns.

Starmer emphasised the UK's long-standing opposition to Iran’s nuclear ambitions and reiterated Britain’s support for Israel’s right to self-defence. However, he stopped short of pledging direct involvement in any Israeli military action.

The deployment comes as tensions in the region rise sharply. Iran has issued warnings to the UK, France, and the United States, stating that if they support Israeli military operations, their forces and installations in the region will be viewed as legitimate targets.

Downing Street also confirmed that Starmer spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the afternoon of June 14. “They discussed the gravely concerning situation in the Middle East and agreed on the need to de-escalate,” a spokesman said.

Starmer is expected to raise the issue further during the G7 summit in Alberta, where Middle East tensions top the agenda. He has already met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Ottawa for bilateral talks on security and trade.

Other leaders attending the summit include German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and U.S. President Donald Trump. The three-day gathering is expected to focus heavily on coordinated responses to the crisis and preventing further regional destabilisation.

Tensions between Israel and Iran escalated dramatically on the late evening of June 13 as Iranian forces launched waves of ballistic missiles targeting Israeli territory, including civilian areas. The strikes came in relation to the Israeli attack in the early hours of the same day, which claimed the lives of civilians, top military commanders and leading scientists.

By Khagan Isayev