Conflict in the Middle East entered a new dangerous phase on Saturday night, as Iran launched over 300 drones and missiles against Israel, its first direct military attack against the country after years of shadow warfare. On the BBC this morning, Health Secretary Victoria Atkins told Laura Kuenssberg this was an ‘incredibly significant attack’. She confirmed that British military planes were operating in the region as part of pre-existing missions, although could not clarify whether British planes had taken part in shooting down missiles and drones.
Yvette Cooper: ‘We strongly condemn this reckless attack’
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper condemned Iran’s actions, saying that whilst the international community had been ‘urging restraint’, Iran had chosen to do the opposite. Cooper said there was concern for the security of people across the region, and that all measures must be taken to prevent any further escalation.
Avi Hyman: ‘We will continue to do what we need to do to defend our nation’
Laura Kuenssberg spoke to Israeli government spokesperson Avi Hyman, and pointed out that Iran says their attack was a retaliation against the strike on their embassy in Damascus. Hyman did not confirm that Israel carried out that strike. He claimed the location was ‘definitively’ not an embassy, but a military position being used by forces ‘seeking harm on Israel’. He said that the Israelis were still considering how to respond to Iran’s attack.
Carla Denyer: ‘clear evidence Israel has been breaking international law’
Co-leader of the Green party Carla Denyer claimed that Israel broke international law with a strike on the Iranian embassy, although she said that didn’t justify Iran’s response. She said that the UK government had to focus on de-escalation, and added that the Green party have been calling for a suspension of arms sales to Israel.
Atkins: ‘protecting children is a very conservative value’
In other news, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will be in parliament this week, which, if it goes through, would ban the sale of cigarettes to anyone born after 2009. Kuenssberg asked Victoria Atkins whether stopping people from smoking outright was ‘un-Conservative’, and pointed out that many in her party are against the policy. Atkins said that the Bill would protect future generations, and is an essential way of reducing the demand on the NHS in years to come.
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