Strikes in Iran: France “neither warned nor involved”, the United Kingdom carries out “defensive operations” in the Middle East

London assures that it has not taken part in joint operations between the United States and Israel either.

France and the United Kingdom both assure that they did not participate in the American-Israeli operation in Iran. “France was neither warned nor involved, just like all the countries in the region and our allies,” said Emmanuel Macron during a Defense Council at the Élysée alongside Sébastien Lecornu, several ministers and senior military officials.

France’s “absolute priority” is the security of its nationals and its “military influence” in the region, continued the head of state. The priority is also “to be alongside all the countries which are today affected by the Iranian response or which are threatened by it in their territorial integrity, their sovereignty”, he further underlined, with particular reference to the Gulf countries.

British fighter planes

For his part, United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that British fighter jets were “in the sky” on Saturday for “coordinated regional defensive operations aimed at protecting our people, our interests and our allies”.

In his first public reaction to the American-Israeli attack on Iran, which in response provoked Iranian missile attacks towards several neighboring countries, the British leader considered that this operation was “in accordance with international law”. He made the comments in a brief televised address after holding an emergency meeting with several of his ministers and security officials on developments in the Middle East conflict.

The head of the British government, however, clarified that London “played no role” in today’s strikes against Iran.