LONDON

British military aircraft are operating over the Middle East as part of “coordinated regional defensive operations,” Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Saturday.

In a televised statement on Friday, Starmer said the planes were “in the sky today” to help protect British interests and allies in the region.

Remarks came after Starmer chaired a meeting of the government's emergency Cobra committee as Britain weighs its response to US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory attacks on bases in the Gulf.

He said the UK had a range of defensive capabilities in the Middle East which had been “recently strengthened,” and confirmed that protections for British bases and personnel had been raised to their highest level.

“We are also reaching out to UK nationals in the region and doing everything we can to support them,” he added.

He also said he has been speaking to leaders in the so-called E3 group – the UK, Germany and France – as well as other regional partners.

“It is vital we prevent further escalation and return to a diplomatic process,” he said, adding that he wanted to see “peace and security and the protection of civilian life.”

Starmer said Iran “can end this now” and urged it to “refrain from further strikes, give up their weapons program and cease the appalling violence and repression against the Iranian people.”

“This is the route back to the negotiating table,” he added.

Israel launched an attack against Iran early Saturday under the name “Lion’s Roar,” declaring a “special and immediate” state of emergency across the country.

US President Donald Trump later said the US also began “major combat operations” in Iran.