LONDON

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa discussed the ongoing escalation in the Middle East over the phone on Saturday, condemning Iranian attacks on critical national infrastructure.

"The leaders began by discussing the situation on the ground, and the Prime Minister outlined the UK’s latest support for Bahrain, including deploying a team of experts to help counter drone attacks," Starmer's office said in a statement.

During the phone call, Starmer updated Al-Khalifa on the US's use of UK bases for "collective self-defense of the region," which included degrading missile sites and capabilities utilized to attack shipping.

"Both condemned Iran’s ongoing attacks on critical national infrastructure and the Strait of Hormuz," added the statement.

The phone call came amid the broader regional escalation since the US and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, killing around 1,300 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Iran has retaliated with missiles and drones targeting Israel and US assets and interests across Arab countries. Several of those strikes have caused casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure, drawing condemnation from targeted countries.