Prime Minister Keir Starmer has condemned the “reckless” Iranian drone attack that set a Kuwaiti oil refinery ablaze, as Gulf states face continued strikes from Tehran amid escalating US-Israel conflict with Iran.
In a phone call with Kuwait’s Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah on Friday, Starmer discussed the deployment of Britain’s Rapid Sentry air defence system to protect Kuwaiti and British personnel and interests, while avoiding wider escalation.
A Downing Street readout stated: “The Prime Minister began by condemning the reckless overnight drone attack on a Kuwaiti oil refinery. He reiterated that the UK stands with Kuwait and all our allies in the Gulf.” The leaders also welcomed a meeting convened by the Foreign Secretary on a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, amid ongoing disruption to global shipping.
Defence Secretary John Healey announced on Tuesday that the Rapid Sentry system had arrived in Kuwait. State news agency KUNA reported that the attack caused fires in “a number of operational units” but no injuries. Emergency teams and environmental experts were deployed to assess air quality.
The attack came less than 24 hours after Home Secretary Yvette Cooper condemned Iran’s recklessness and accused the regime of holding the global economy hostage in the Strait of Hormuz. Foreign Secretary David Lammy held talks with dozens of nations on Thursday, demanding the “immediate and unconditional reopening” of the vital shipping route and discussing potential sanctions against Iran.
