UK troops didn't need to engage, says Healey

UK forces were acceptable to prosecute aft Iran launched ballistic missiles connected Israel, but they "didn't request to bash so", the UK defence caput has said.

John Healey, who is successful Cyprus visiting subject personnel, said RAF Typhoons were successful the aerial astatine the clip of the onslaught connected Tuesday night, but Israel’s ain defences dealt with the threat.

He said the quality of the battle was antithetic compared to April erstwhile RAF Typhoon jets based successful Cyprus changeable down Iranian drones. The jets are not equipped to way and people ballistic missiles.

Healey said the UK's engagement was portion of an effort to forestall escalation and to amusement the UK’s steadfast enactment for Israel’s security.

The BBC besides understands that Royal Navy Destroyer, HMS Duncan, did not occurrence immoderate of her Sea Viper missiles.

Healey thanked British unit progressive for their courageousness and professionalism.

"The UK stands afloat down Israel's close to support its state and its radical against threats."

The defence caput said helium besides spoke to his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant connected Wednesday morning, wherever helium said the UK condemned the Iranian attack.

"We proceed to enactment steadfast their [Israel's] close to security, but our biggest interest is to debar this struggle spiralling retired of power and into a wider determination war," Healey said.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had launched the missiles connected Tuesday successful retaliation for caller attacks that killed the leaders of the Hezbollah and Hamas militant groups, arsenic good arsenic a elder Iranian commander.

Israel said astir of the 180 missiles fired were intercepted.

US forces were besides progressive successful helping Israel onslaught down Iranian missiles, confirming that 2 of its guided rocket destroyers - USS Cole and USS Bulkeley, which are based successful the eastbound Mediterranean - fired a twelve interceptors astatine incoming missiles.

Capt Bill Urban, pb spokesperson for US Naval Forces Europe and Africa, said: "Multiple missiles are believed to person been successfully engaged astatine this time."

Healey's sojourn to Cyprus volition spot him conscionable immoderate of the British unit preparing for the anticipation of evacuating British nationals from Lebanon.

Britons successful Lebanon person been advised to registry their beingness with officials connected the government's website and a UK-chartered level is acceptable to permission Beirut connected Wednesday.

The antecedently sporadic cross-border warring betwixt Israel and Hezbollah escalated connected 8 October 2023 - the time aft the unprecedented onslaught connected Israel by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip - erstwhile Hezbollah fired astatine Israeli positions, successful solidarity with the Palestinians.