UK sending four more Typhoon jets to Middle East, says Keir Starmer
It comes amid escalating tensions in the region after the US’s attack on Iran.
Four extra British Typhoon fighter jets are being deployed to Qatar amid the conflict in the Middle East, Sir Keir Starmer has said.
Speaking at a press conference in Downing Street, the Prime Minister also announced that a Government-chartered flight from Oman to Britain has now taken off, after it was delayed from doing so overnight.
Sir Keir revealed he had chaired a Cobra meeting on Thursday, and acknowledged that people across the UK are “worried sick about their family and friends who are caught up in this”.
He added: “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.”
In an effort to build Britain’s military presence in the region, Sir Keir said four further fighter jets would be sent to the Middle East.
“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,” he said.
Two Wildcat helicopters armed with drone-busting missiles will arrive in Cyprus on Friday, the Prime Minister said.
HMS Dragon, a type 45 warship, is also being deployed as part of the build-up, but is unlikely to arrive in the Mediterranean until next week.
The Prime Minister insisted the UK had been preparing for the possibility of conflict “long before” Israeli and US strikes began, by deploying “additional military capabilities to the region to defend our interests”.
He also defended against criticism from Donald Trump over the UK’s decision not to get involved in the initial strikes.
The US president said Sir Keir is no Winston Churchill, while the Prime Minister has also faced domestic criticism from his political opponents for failing to build a larger presence in the Middle East before the conflict began.
Sir Keir insisted the special relationship between the US and the UK had not been fractured by the disagreement, telling reporters: “Look, the special relationship is in operation right now.”
He added: “We’re sharing intelligence on 24/7 basis in the usual way. That is the special relationship.”
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