Iran launched its first direct attack on Israel on Saturday in retaliation for an Israeli airstrike on its embassy in Damascus that killed several senior military officers.

According to the Israeli military, more than 99% of the 300 drones and missiles were shot down by Israel and its allies, and the attacks caused “very minimal losses.”

While no one was killed, a 10-year-old girl was wounded by shrapnel, and personnel were also injured at Nevatim Air Base in southern Israel, which continued to operate after suffering minor damage.

The British Ministry of Defense confirmed that RAF warplanes were deployed in Iraq and Syria to intercept and shoot down Iranian drones targeting Israel.

But what happens next, and how will Britain become involved in the conflict? Here’s everything you need to know.

What happens next?

“If Israel retaliates against Iran, Iran’s response will be much greater than tonight’s military action,” Iranian Army Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri told state television.

He also warned Washington that its bases could also be attacked if it helped Israel retaliate.

“The battle is not over yet and we must remain vigilant and pay attention to the instructions issued by the IDF and the Homeland Command,” Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant said.

A senior U.S. official told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that U.S. President Joe Biden will not participate in offensive operations against Iran CNN.

It is unclear whether Israel will retaliate against Iran and how it will unfold, but the U.S. position may prevent it from taking aggressive action against Tehran.

How does the UK get involved?

Britain has sent several more Royal Air Force jets and aerial tankers to the region after Iran fired drones at Israel in retaliation for an airstrike on its embassy in Syria, the Defense Ministry said in a statement on Sunday. . .

The department explained that the deployed jets will intercept air attacks within the UK’s existing missions.

“In response to the rising threat from Iran and the growing risk of escalation in the Middle East, the UK government has been working with partners in the region to encourage de-escalation and prevent further attacks.”

Like the United States, Britain and other world powers such as China and the United Nations have said they want to work to ease tensions between the two countries and have suggested Britain would only act to protect Israel and not incite attacks against Iran.

Iranian Prime Minister Sunak said on Sunday that if Iran’s attack on Israel is successful, “the impact on regional stability will be difficult to overstate.”

altar tells sky news: “This is a dangerous and unnecessary escalation, which I condemn in the strongest possible terms.

“Thanks to an internationally coordinated effort in which the UK was involved, almost all of these missiles were intercepted, saving lives not only in Israel but also in neighboring countries such as Jordan.”

British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said in 2022 that British defense exports to Israel were “relatively small” and would reach 42 million pounds in 2022.

According to 2022 research by the pressure group Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT), 15% of the components in the F35 stealth fighter jets currently used to bomb Gaza are supplied by British industry.

Research shows that since the election of the Conservative government in May 2015, the UK has issued more than 442 million pounds worth of weapons licenses to the Israeli army, including military technology licenses worth 183 million pounds and aircraft worth 117 million pounds. Helicopter and drone licenses.

The British government has given no indication that the UK can increase exports of military equipment and weapons to Israel.

Some ministers called on the government to immediately suspend arms transfers while Israel continues to bomb Gaza.

Tobias Ellwood, a former defense minister and former chairman of the defense committee, said he expected Britain to join the United States in protecting Israel in the future.

talking daily telegraph“It is clear that the UK will stand with Israel and with the United States to help defend its people and their territory,” he said.

Mr Ellwood added: “There is no doubt that this conflict in the Middle East is escalating and no one country can control its direction.”

“Iran has long been engaged in a shadow war with Israel, but both sides have generally been careful to avoid direct combat. So instead of using its proxies, this attack by Iran takes us into a new and dangerous territory. It has now been established A new and worrying precedent has been set.”