A top Israeli military official expressed gratitude to his British counterpart for their joint defensive effort in repelling Iranian drones fired at Israel on Sunday. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi conveyed his deep appreciation to the British forces for their cooperation and high-quality operation, according to an IDF statement.
Israel and allied forces, including the United States, France, and the UK, intercepted a wave of Iranian strikes fired in retaliation to a suspected Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria, earlier this month. The joint defensive effort successfully repelled the Iranian drones, showcasing the cooperation between the nations.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is facing increased domestic pressure to reconsider his support of Israel's military campaign in Gaza and halt the sale of arms to the state. The mounting criticism comes as the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli attacks continues to rise.
Calls for Sunak to cease supplying weapons to Israel intensified following an Israeli airstrike on April 1 that resulted in the deaths of seven staff members from the aid organization World Central Kitchen, three of whom were British citizens. The incident has sparked outrage and demands for a reassessment of the UK's stance on arms sales to Israel.