UK offers Bahrain additional jet cover against potential Iranian strikes

LONDON

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer held talks with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain on Thursday, offering to deploy jets to provide defensive air cover to the Gulf state.

According to a readout from Number 10, the prime minister spoke with the Bahraini king late on Thursday following his news conference earlier in the day.

During the call, Starmer confirmed that the UK was ready to send aircraft to support Bahrain's security.

Downing Street said the two leaders agreed that operational teams from both countries would begin working together on the plans in the coming days.

Regional tensions have escalated since the United States and Israel launched a large-scale attack on Iran on Saturday, killing more than 1,000 people, including Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, over 150 schoolgirls, and senior military officials.

Iran has retaliated with sweeping barrages of its own that have targeted US bases, diplomatic facilities, and military personnel across the region, as well as multiple Israeli cities. The attacks have continued to escalate.