The UK foreign secretary, David Cameron, has urged Israel to act with its head as well as its heart and not escalate the conflict by mounting a revenge raid on Iran.

His remarks imply the UK would not take part in an attack on Iran but would continue to defend Israel if it came under further assault.
Lord Cameron said: “We are saying Israel has a right to respond but we do not support a retaliatory strike. There are times where we have to be smart as well as tough, where we have to use head as well as heart.”

He said Israel had a right to respond but suggested the hostilities at the weekend had been a double defeat for Tehran. “Not only was their attack an almost total failure but also the rest of the world can now see what a malign influence they are in the region and understand their true nature.”