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U.K. sending fighter jets to Qatar as European countries pulled deeper into the conflict
Even though the war is currently contained in the Middle East, its effects are reverberating around the world, and European countries are increasingly being drawn into the conflict.
“Tehran is now trying to export the war to as many countries as it can,” said EU Vice-President Kaja Kallas on X. “Today, EU Foreign Ministers and our Gulf partners will discuss what we can do together to break the cycle of violence.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced earlier today that the U.K. sent four additional Typhoon fighter jets to Qatar. The jets are intended to help the Gulf state defend itself against Iranian missiles and drones. Starmer’s news conference followed news that a drone that took off from Beirut struck a British airbase on Cyprus.
Meanwhile, Italy said Thursday that it has ramped up its national air-defence systems and confirmed it will send naval support to Cyprus, along with anti-missile and anti-drone defence systems to Gulf countries that have suffered from Iran’s retaliatory strikes.
France and Greece also agreed to co-ordinate deployment of military assets to Cyprus and other eastern Mediterranean. The two countries, along with Italy, said they will work together to safeguard shipping in the Red Sea.
Even Ukraine — a country currently defending itself against Russia — has been tapped by U.S. and Middle East allies for help in defending against Iranian Shahed drones. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he will help as long as Ukraine’s ability to defend itself isn’t compromised and that its efforts bring diplomatic benefits.
“We help to defend from war those who help us, Ukraine, bring a just end to the war,” with Russia, Zelenskyy said.
Repatriation efforts are also well underway, with hundreds of citizens from countries like Germany, Spain and Bulgaria returning home today.
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