British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the deployment of military assets, including jets, to the Middle East for contingency support following Iran’s threats to target UK, French, and US bases if they intervene in strikes on Israel.

The Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority extended the closure of Iraqi airspace on Saturday, permitting flights only during daylight hours—except at Basra International Airport.

In a phone call with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov condemned Israel’s use of force against Iran and expressed Moscow’s readiness to assist in de-escalating tensions in the region.

Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry warned on social media platform X that further escalation in the Middle East is a real possibility. It also noted that Iran’s nuclear programme threatens not only Israel but also Saudi Arabia and regional stability as a whole.

Al Jazeera.