Sir Keir Starmer has given provide an update on the unfolding conflict in the Middle East while telling reporters he has not spoken to US President Donald Trump in days.
While speaking on the Middle East, The Prime Minister was questioned on if he had spoken to Trump after he criticised him saying Starmer is “no Winston Churchill”.
Starmer revealed he has not spoken to Trump since the jibe was made and in fact the leaders had not spoken since Saturday (February 28).
The Prime Minister also announced at a press conference today (March 5) that the UK is sending four more Typhoon jets to join its operations in Qatar amid the conflict in the Middle East.
Starmer said: “I can announce today that we’re sending four additional Typhoon jets to join our squadron in Qatar to strengthen our defensive operations in Qatar and across the region.
“Wildcat helicopters with anti-drone capabilities are arriving in Cyprus tomorrow.”
It comes as Defence Secretary John Healey met his counterpart in Cyprus to ease tensions about Britain’s response to drone attacks on the island follwoing Iran’s realtation after Isreali and US forces struck them on Saturday (Feberaury 28).
(Image: Tim Merry)
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Healey met with his Cypriot counterpart Vasilis Palmas “to discuss how the UK is further reinforcing our air defences to support our shared security”, Sir Keir’s spokesman told reporters.
The spokesman rejected accusations the Government failed to have enough military assets in the Middle East after RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus was hit by a drone.
Cyprus’s high commissioner to the UK said a British military presence to defend the island was “the least we expect” in a criticism of the UK’s approach to managing the conflict.
Overnight on Monday, a hangar at RAF Akrotiri was hit by an Iranian-made Shahed drone, which was launched from Beirut in Lebanon, according to Cypriot officials.
Starmer added that he was focused on “providing calm, level-headed leadership in the national interest” amid the war in the Middle East.
He said “I know that people are worried sick about their family and friends who are caught up in this, about the impact on our lives and our economy, and about the potential for even greater escalation.
“They can hardly believe that, yet again, we are seeing missiles and drones falling and civilians in the firing line across the region. So, I want to reassure the British public about the action that we are taking while the region has been plunged into chaos.
“My focus is providing calm, level-headed leadership in the national interest. That means deploying our military and diplomatic strength to protect our people, and it means having the strength to stand firm by our values and our principles, no matter the pressure to do otherwise.”
The Prime Minister also confirmed that first charter flight from Oman “took off a few minutes ago”.
He added: “More than 4,000 people have now arrived back in the United Kingdom on commercial flights from the UAE, including vulnerable Brits identified by our teams.
“A further seven flights are due to leave the UAE for the UK today, and I can report that our first charter flight from Oman took off a few minutes ago. We will lay on additional charter flights in the coming days.
“British Airways is putting on daily flights from Oman, and we will keep working with all of our partners to increase the speed and capacity of this airlift. I want to be very clear, this is a huge undertaking.”
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