UK stressing de-escalation in Gaza and Lebanon during Bahrain and Jordan trip

David Lammy highlights the importance of working with regional partners

Protesters at a rally in solidarity with the people of Gaza and Lebanon in the Bahraini capital Manama. AFP

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UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy is visiting Bahrain and Jordan on Wednesday, where he will push calls for de-escalation in the Gaza war that is threatening to also engulf Lebanon.

His visit comes just after the one-year anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, and amid fears that Israel’s military is expanding its ground operation in Lebanon.

He will stress the importance of working with regional partners and demand that Iran and its proxies stop attacks which are causing chaos and destruction for the region and its people.

“The situation is incredibly dangerous and further escalation or miscalculation in the region is in no one’s interests,” Mr Lammy said.

“I am pleased to be back in the region to meet with our key partners in Bahrain and Jordan and see first-hand our combined efforts towards building long-term security and stability in the Middle East.

“We must not waver at this critical period to achieve ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon, to get more desperately needed aid into Gaza, and secure the release of all hostages.

“Our nations share deep-rooted partnerships across defence, trade, and security, which I look forward to building upon.”

Mr Lammy is expected to discuss efforts to bring security and stability to the Middle East and reiterate the UK’s call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon.

The UK Government has repeatedly called for a ceasefire and de-escalation as the Gaza war spread to include greater Israeli operations in Lebanon and attacks by Iran. While in Bahrain, Mr Lammy will meet British armed forces personnel who are helping to maintain security in the Gulf, including commercial shipping in the Red Sea which has come under fire from Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. In Jordan, he will meet senior leaders, including Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, and express the UK’s support for the country’s role in delivering much needed humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza.

On Monday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned Iran’s latest ballistic missile attack on Israel and urged the region to “step back from the brink” and find a political solution to the crisis.

Mr Lammy is also expected to discuss trade with his regional counterparts as the government prepares to host a major international investment summit on October 14. In Bahrain he will tour HMS Lancaster, which has been operating in the region since 2022.

Bahrain hosts a permanent support base for the Royal Navy, known as HMS Juffair, which was opened in 2018.