The Deputy PM David Lammy said British military planes were protecting allies in the Gulf amid a barrage of retalitatory Iranian missiles and drones across the region
David Lammy has said F-35 and Typhoon jets are in the sky taking down missiles “as we speak” – as the Middle East conflict entered its seventh day.
The Deputy PM said British military planes were protecting allies in the Gulf amid a barrage of retaliatory Iranian missiles and drones across the region.
Keir Starmer also scrambled four more Typhoon jets to Qatar on Thursday in an attempt to bolster defences and “take out Iranian missiles before they are fired at our people and allies”.
Mr Lammy highlighted the efforts of UK jets as he was pressed on whether he was embarrassed by Britain’s response to the crisis amid criticism for failing to have air defence measures in place to sufficiently protect RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, which was hit by a drone. Warship HMS Dragon is not expected to sail to the eastern Mediterranean until next week.
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Asked if he was embarrassed, Mr Lammy told Sky News: “Absolutely not…. we have F-35s, Typhoons in the sky taking down missiles as we speak and that has happened over Jordan, it’s happened over Qatar and of course, we will support nationals in the region.
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“It’s also right to say that we co-ordinate with allies, the French, the Germans. Cyprus is a Nato ally, so we coordinate also with other teams and other close allies on how we equip the area.
“HMS Dragon will be in the region in the coming weeks to further bolster and further support our air defences.”
Mr Lammy, who is also the Justice Secretary, said it would be legal for RAF jets to strike Iranian missile sites which could target Britons. He stressed that the current operations involved British planes shooting down missiles and drones which were already in the sky over allied nations. But he indicated they could lawfully be used to hit targets within Iran to prevent the launch of attacks.
He told BBC Breakfast: “It is entirely legal to protect our people and protect our staff, and therefore all operational capability is available to us in those circumstances.”
Asked if that meant the UK could attack Iranian missile sites from our bases he said: “I’m not here to act as a lawyer, but I think your viewers will understand that in response to being attacked, yes, we can take down sites that are anticipating attacking our people across the region.”
He said the UK had the satellite and intelligence capability to identify Iranian sites. Asked if the UK could fire at an Iranian base in anticipation of it launching an attack, he said: “It is my understanding that that would be legal.”