Rishi Sunak: RAF fighter jets down Iranian drones

• The UK, US, and other countries assisted in countering Iran’s unprecedented attack.
• The Ministry of Defence deployed additional RAF jets over Iraq and Syria instead of Israel.
• Sunak condemned Iran’s “reckless attack” and will join G7 leaders to discuss the next steps.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated that British fighter jets shot down “several drones” fired at Israel from Iran. The UK, along with the US and several other countries, assisted in countering Iran’s unprecedented attack, which marked its first-ever direct strike on Israeli soil. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed that they deployed additional RAF jets over Iraq and Syria instead of Israel.

Mr. Sunak, who condemned Iran’s “reckless attack,” will join G7 leaders on Sunday to discuss the next steps.

Speaking to journalists in Downing Street, Mr. Sunak said that if Iran’s attack on Israel had been successful, “the fallout for regional stability would be hard to overstate.” He did not specify how many drones British forces shot down.

The RAF intercepted attack drones in Syrian and Iraqi airspace, where it was already operating as part of the Operation Shader mission against the Islamic State group. The MoD did not specify how many RAF Typhoons were airborne but stated that the RAF would repel “any airborne attacks within range” of its regional operations.

Overnight on Saturday and into Sunday, Iran launched hundreds of aerial drones and cruise missiles at Israel in a widely anticipated retaliatory attack. The Israeli military reported that it had intercepted the majority of the attacks, mostly outside of Israel’s airspace, with the assistance of other countries.

The US was one of those allies, with President Biden confirming the US military helped Israel shoot down “nearly all” of Iran’s drones and missiles.

Security sources cited by the Reuters news agency reported that Jordan also assisted in taking out some Iranian drones. Mr. Sunak stated that it was clear Iran was “determined to sow discontent and destabilize the region, its backyard.” He further pledged the UK’s continued support for the security of Israel and the wider region and called for “calm heads to prevail.”

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