Starmer says UK sending four fighter jets to Qatar and confirms first repatriation flight has taken off

UK PM Keir Starmer says the UK will send four fighter jets to Qatar to strengthen UK defensive operations, as US-Israel strikes on Iran continue.

He confirms that the first UK flight to bring citizens home has taken off and that 4,000 have already returned - our political correspondent says that's a tiny fraction of the 140,000 British nationals who've said they're in the Middle East.

Earlier, a passenger on board the plane told the BBC it had been a "shambles" after the flight was delayed due to a technical issue.

Starmer also defends his decision not to join the initial strikes on Iran, after he declined a request to allow US planes to use British bases: "My focus is on providing calm, level-headed leadership".

New pictures show destruction in Tehran after six days of strikes - explosions have been seen across the Iranian capital.

In Israel, the military reports new attacks from Iran, with explosions seen in the sky.

The UAE says it intercepted six Iranian missiles and 131 drones today - but one missile and six drones fell inside the country.

Explosions have also been reported in Qatar and Bahrain; Azerbaijan said it was attacked by two Iranian drones; and a tanker was damaged in the northern Gulf - Iran said it hit a US ship.