RAF jets obliterated several Iranian attack drones, the PM confirmed as he condemned the “dangerous and unnecessary” assault on Israel.
The PM said the impact on regional stability had Iran‘s plot succeeded would be “hard to overstate”.
Explosions are seen in the skies above Jerusalem on Saturday night[/caption]
A RAF Typhoon aircraft takes off to conduct air strikes against military targets in Yemen[/caption]
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had vowed to hit back at Israel after a strike on his country’s consulate in Syria[/caption]
Warplanes stationed in Iraq and Syria roared into action early Sunday morning – intercepting the onslaught unleashed by Tehran.
Israel said Iran sent 170 drones, more than 30 cruise missiles and at least 120 ballistic missiles.
The Prime Minister said: “Last night, Iran launched a barrage of missiles and attack drones across the Middle East towards Israel.
“This was a dangerous and unnecessary escalation, which I’ve condemned in the strongest terms.”
The PM went on: “Thanks to an international coordinated effort which the United Kingdom participated in, almost all of these missiles were intercepted saving lives not just in Israel, but in neighbouring countries like Jordan as well.”
He hailed the RAF heroes, saying: “We pay tribute to the bravery and the professionalism of our pilots flying into the face of danger to protect civilians.”
And he added: “If (the attack was) successful the fallout for regional stability would be hard to overstate.”
The PM also explained: “The RAF sent additional planes to the region as part of our existing operations to counter Daesh in Iraq and Syria.
“I can confirm that our planes did shoot down a number of Iranian attack drones.”
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) had already confirmed several RAF jets and air refuelling tankers had been sent to the region to “bolster Operation Shader” – the UK’s existing counter-Islamic State operation in Iraq and Syria.
But it was not clear if any drones had been successfully shot down as Cabinet Minister Victoria Atkins earlier today said she was not in a position to “confirm or deny it”.
Mr Sunak will join US President Joe Biden on a call with G7 leaders this afternoon amid fears of further escalation in the event of a possible Israeli counter-strike.
The assault was launched in response to a strike widely blamed on Israel on an Iranian consular building in Syria earlier this month which killed two Iranian generals.
It marks the first time a direct military assault has been launched by Tehran on Israel despite enmity dating back to the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Health Secretary Ms Atkins said the UK Government was putting “all of our efforts” into deescalation in the Middle East.
She told Sky News: “All of our efforts at the moment are on de-escalating this. We do not want a miscalculation or an escalation in events because we know that that will take its toll.”
