Starmer calls emergency Cobra meeting amid rising Israel-Iran tensions

WorldPolitics
18 Jun 2025 • 11:29 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will chair an emergency Cobra meeting on Wednesday afternoon to address the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.
  • Families of UK embassy staff have been withdrawn from Israel due to the intensifying conflict, though thousands of British nationals remain stranded.
  • Confusion persists regarding official advice for British citizens in Israel, with Downing Street not explicitly urging them to leave despite available transport to the Jordanian border.
  • US President Donald Trump is reportedly considering deploying American forces to support Israel, having described Iran's supreme leader as an "easy target".
  • The Foreign Office has advised against travel to Israel and has no current plans for repatriation, while British Typhoon fighter jets have been deployed to the region.

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