Iran threat to British bases sparks RAF jet deployment

Conflict escalates as Israel and Iran hit each other overnight

- ARCHIE MITCHELL DAVID MADDOX

The UK is sending more RAF jets to the Middle East, Sir Keir Starmer said, after Iran threatened to target British, French and US bases if the countries help stop strikes on Israel.

The prime minister said further military assets are being deployed to provide “contingency support” across the region amid escalating hostilities between the two long-time foes.

Overnight, Israel and Iran launched fresh attacks on each other, stoking fears of a wider conflict after Israel expanded its surprise campaign against its main rival with a strike on the world’s biggest gas field.

Tehran called off nuclear talks that Washington had said were the only way to halt Israel’s bombing, while Israel’s military said more missiles were launched from Iran towards Israel late last night, and that it was working to intercept them. It also said it was attacking military targets in Tehran. Iranian state television said Iran had launched missiles and drones at Israel.

Air raid sirens were heard in Tel Aviv as a barrage of missiles were intercepted by Israel’s defence shield. The night sky was lit up by explosions, but it was not clear if the Iranian missiles had breached defences.

Several projectiles were also visible in the night sky over Jerusalem overnight. Air raid sirens did not sound in the city, but were heard in the northern Israeli city of Haifa.

Israel’s ambulance service said a woman in her 20s was killed and 13 other people injured when a missile struck a two-story house in northern Israel.

Iran said the Shahran oil depot in Tehran was targeted in an Israeli attack, but that the situation was under control.

A round of US-Iran nuclear talks due to be held in Oman today was cancelled, with Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araqchi saying the discussions could not take place while Iran was being subjected to Israel’s “barbarous” attacks.