British planes ‘in the sky today’ in Middle East, Keir Starmer confirms after US-Israeli strikes on Iran

“As part of our commitments to the security of our allies in the Middle East, we have a range of defensive capabilities in the region which we have recently strengthened”, he said.

“Our forces are active and British planes are in the sky today as part of co-ordinated regional defensive operations to protect our people, our interests and our allies as Britain has done before in line with international law.”

The Prime Minister also confirmed the UK played no role in the strikes, but reaffirmed his stance on the Iranian regime.

“They have murdered thousands of their own people”, he said.

“[They have] brutally crushed dissent and sought to destabilise the region. Even in the United Kingdom, the Iranian regime poses a direct threat to dissidents and to the Jewish community.”

Later, Sir Keir spoke to the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, while Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said she had spoken to regional allies “to condemn indiscriminate strikes by the abhorrent Iranian regime and to express UK solidarity”.

"We want to see prevention of escalation and protection of civilian lives," Ms Cooper said.

"Our embassies are working tirelessly to support British nationals."

Today's attack follows mounting tension in the region, with the US deploying a fleet of warships and aircraft to pressure Tehran.

Talks between the US and Iran regarding Tehran’s nuclear programme ended on Thursday without agreement.

Israeli authorities said the strikes – dubbed Operation Roaring Lion by Israel and Operation Epic Fury by the US – were intended to “thoroughly degrade the Iranian terrorist regime and to remove existential threats to Israel”.

In a video posted on his Truth Social platform, US President Donald Trump said the attacks were “a noble mission”.

He said Iran had “attempted to rebuild their nuclear programme and to continue developing long-range missiles that can now threaten our very good friends and allies in Europe, our troops stationed overseas and could soon reach the American homeland”.

It has been claimed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in the Israeli-US strikes.

A senior Israeli official said the body of Khamenei has allegedly been found.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested the strikes had killed Khamenei, and called on Iranians to "take to the streets and finish the job".

There were many signs indicating Khamenei "is no longer", Mr Netanyahu said.

Iran's foreign ministry however earlier claimed the country's supreme leader and president were alive and well.

"They are all safe and sound," an Iranian foreign ministry spokesman told Sky News.