Iranian threats to carry out Israel missile strike ‘unacceptable’, says Sunak

Iranian threats to carry out a missile strike against Israel are “unacceptable”, Rishi Sunak has said as he reaffirmed the UK’s support for the Jewish state’s “right to defend itself.”

Rishi Sunak told broadcasters: “The threats from Iran are completely unacceptable and we, like the Americans, fully support Israel’s right to defend itself against that.

“We have already highlighted Iran as a significant risk to regional security and we have always said that we will support Israel’s ability to defend itself and we are taking action ourselves to make sure we can protect the UK against threats from Iran.”

His comments echo those of US President Joe Biden, who said on Wednesday that his country’s commitment to Israel’s security in the face of Iranian threats was “ironclad”.

Israel itself has already threatened to strike directly at Iran if it launched an attack from its territory, and there are fears the Israel-Hamas war could also be expanded through the involvement of the Iran-backed, Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah.

Thursday also brought the repatriation of three British aid workers killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza.James Kirby, Jim Henderson and John Chapman were working for the aid group World Central Kitchen when their convoy was struck in an attack that killed four other aid workers.

Their families paid tribute to the three men, with Mr Kirby’s saying he would be “missed by many” while Mr Henderson’s described him as “our shining light”.

Mr Chapman’s family said he be “missed by so many”, adding they were “overwhelmed by the support shown”.

“As a family we are shocked and saddened by the sudden death of our beautiful James, who we lost on the 2nd April,” they said.

James “Jim” Henderson’s family described him as a “kind, compassionate, loyal and considerate man, our shining light”.

“We as a family are deeply shocked, saddened and upset at the untimely tragic death of Jim,” they said.T

he family of John Chapman said: “John was an incredible husband, father, brother, son and friend who will be missed deeply and he was an inspiration to many.“We are devastated by this unbearable loss but are hugely relieved to have John home.”