THE CONFLICT SPREADS

After US attacks, Iran hitting out across region | PM: I don't believe in regime change from sky | Tourists and celebs in Dubai caught in crossfire

- BY LIZZY BUCHAN, SOPHIE HUSKISSON and BENEDICT TETZLAFF DEAS

Starmer and Trump were at loggerheads

BRITISH tourists in Dubai were yesterday among thousands of people scrambling to flee as war spread across the Middle East.

As Tehran and its allies pounded Israel and countries with links to the US, Keir Starmer launched his strongest rebuke yet of President Donald Trump, saying the UK “does not believe in regime change from the skies”.

But the Prime Minister defended his decision on Sunday to let the US launch attacks from UK military bases as he insisted ministers are looking “at all options to support our people”.

Football's Rio Ferdinand and cricketer Jonny Bairstow were among celebs caught in the chaos, as expats and tourists scrambled to get out of the region with flights cancelled.

Starmer said yesterday: “We want to ensure that they can return home as swiftly and safely as possible, for their lives are on the line.”

But he added the UK had learned the lessons of the Iraq War and would not commit British forces to military action without a lawful basis.

Trump had lashed out at Starmer for taking “far too much time” to let the US use British bases to target Iran's missile launchers.

The president said he was “very disappointed” adding: “That's probably never happened between our countries before. It sounds like he was worried about the legality.”

Starmer’s announcement followed an Iranian drone hitting a runway at RAF Akrotiri, in Cyprus although no casualties were reported.

A source claimed the drone hit an American U2 spy plane hangar.

Starmer told Parliament: “President Trump has expressed his disagreement with our decision not to join the initial strikes.

“But it is my duty to judge what is in Britain's national interest, and that is the judgement I made. I stand by it.”