UK’s Starmer says Israeli strikes on Lebanon ‘wrong’ and ‘should stop’

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says Israel’s continued attacks on Lebanon are “wrong” as he travels to discuss the shaky Middle East ceasefire with Gulf leaders.

“Let’s be really clear about it, they’re wrong,” Starmer tells Britain’s ITV News when asked about Israel’s continued attacks on Lebanon.

“That shouldn’t be happening, that should stop, that’s my strong view,” the prime minister adds, calling this a “matter of principles,” while acknowledging he did not have full details of the ceasefire deal.

Starmer speaks while visiting Bahrain on a tour of the region, after meeting leaders of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

He rejects a suggestion from Iran that it could charge for letting ships through the vital Gulf waterway, telling ITV: “Our position is ‘open’ means open for safe navigation.”

“That means toll-free navigation and vessels can get through,” he adds.

In comments to regional broadcasters, Starmer says the mood among Britain’s allies in the Gulf is that the ceasefire is “fragile, that there’s work to do in relation to it.”