UK forces have been concerned in supporting Israel after Iran launched ballistic missiles on the nation, the defence secretary has mentioned.

John Healey, who was in Cyprus to go to army personnel, mentioned British forces had “performed their half in makes an attempt to stop additional escalation” on Tuesday, later including that RAF jets have been prepared to interact with Iranian targets however “didn’t want to take action”.

The BBC understands British army jets didn’t shoot down any Iranian ballistic missiles nor did the Royal Navy Destroyer, HMS Duncan, fireplace any of her Sea Viper missiles.

In April RAF Hurricane jets primarily based in Cyprus shot down Iranian drones however they don’t seem to be outfitted to trace and shoot down ballistic missiles.

Healey mentioned RAF Typhoons have been within the air when Iran started its assault on Tuesday evening, saying it was “a part of the broader effort to stop additional escalation and to point out the UK steadfast help for Israel’s proper to self defence and to safety.”

When requested why the Typhoons didn’t interact with targets, he mentioned it was as a result of the character of the assault was totally different in contrast with April and that Israel’s personal defence handled the “huge assault”.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer mentioned the UK “stands with Israel” and recognises its proper to self-defence.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps mentioned it had launched the missiles in retaliation for latest assaults that killed the leaders of the Hezbollah and Hamas militant teams, in addition to a senior Iranian commander.

Israel mentioned many of the 180 missiles fired have been intercepted.

Mark Savill, army sciences director on the UK defence assume tank RUSI, mentioned RAF Hurricane jets are “not well-equipped to shoot down ballistic missiles”.

“It’s attainable the UK as an alternative offered intelligence, surveillance or different monitoring knowledge,” he mentioned.

Healey thanked British personnel concerned for his or her braveness and professionalism.

“The UK stands absolutely behind Israel’s proper to defend its nation and its folks towards threats.”

Healey is assembly among the British personnel who’re in Cyprus making ready for the potential for evacuating British nationals from Lebanon.

Britons in Lebanon have been suggested to register their presence with officers on the federal government’s web site and a UK-chartered aircraft left Beirut on Wednesday.

The defence secretary mentioned: “We have been reserving additional seats on industrial flights which might be nonetheless leaving Beirut airport, and in the present day, we have additionally booked the primary particular chartered industrial flight out, so those that are wanting to go away and able to depart and responding to our authorities urging to go away, can achieve this and proceed to take action.”

However some instructed the BBC that they had obtained no affirmation or particulars about their reserving on the government-chartered flight, regardless of paying for a seat.

British citizen Libby, 25, was about to board a industrial flight from Beirut to Cairo on Wednesday morning, and described the state of affairs within the Lebanese capital as “terrifying”.

“You possibly can’t sleep as a result of you’ll be able to hear the Israeli drones over your head, you get up within the evening since you hear strikes,” she instructed the BBC Radio 4’s At this time programme.

In April British jets shot down plenty of drones fired at Israel from Iran.

The drones have been intercepted in Syrian and Iraqi airspace, the place the RAF was already working as a part of the Operation Shader mission towards the Islamic State group.

The choice to make use of jets in April was taken by the earlier Conservative authorities and supported on the time and since by Sir Keir.

Sir Keir used the deal with from Downing Road to sentence Iran’s assault on Israel, saying he was “deeply involved that the area is on the brink”.

“We stand with Israel and we recognise her proper to self-defence within the face of this aggression,” he mentioned.

Calling on Iran to cease its assaults, he added: “Along with its proxies like Hezbollah, Iran has menaced the Center East for a lot too lengthy, chaos and destruction introduced not simply to Israel, however to the folks they stay amongst in Lebanon and past.

“Make no mistake, Britain stands full sq. towards such violence. We help Israel’s affordable demand for the safety of its folks.”

Sir Keir was on the telephone to his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu when the Iranian assaults started.

The 2 males had been talking for round quarter-hour – in regards to the prospect of missiles being fired by Tehran – when Netanyahu needed to abandon the decision as a result of he had been instructed the assaults have been underneath method.

Throughout their name, Sir Keir additionally underlined the significance of a ceasefire in Lebanon and Gaza.

Conservative Get together chief Rishi Sunak mentioned: “We stand unequivocally by Israel’s proper to defend itself together with towards Hezbollah in Lebanon.”

In his assertion, the prime minister repeated his recommendation to British nationals to go away Lebanon, warning the state of affairs was turning into “more and more grave”.

He added: “If in case you have the means to go away, the time is now. Don’t wait.”

As of final week, there have been regarded as between 4,000 and 6,000 UK nationals, together with dependants, in Lebanon.

The missile assault got here hours after Israel launched a floor invasion in southern Lebanon, in what it has described as “restricted, localised and focused” raids towards Hezbollah.

Lebanese officers say greater than 1,000 folks have been killed following Israeli air strikes over the previous two weeks. Hezbollah has responded by firing a whole bunch of rockets into northern Israel.

The beforehand sporadic cross-border combating between Israel and Hezbollah escalated on 8 October 2023 – the day after the unprecedented assault on Israel by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip – when Hezbollah fired at Israeli positions, in solidarity with the Palestinians.