Anti-war march draws thousands in London
Protesters condemn U.S. Israeli strikes on Iran
About 10,000 anti-war demonstrators marched through central London to denounce recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, assembling along the River Thames with many carrying Iranian and Palestinian flags and placards demanding an end to military action. Organizers—backed by groups including the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Stop the War Coalition and Palestine Solidarity Campaign—warned that the strikes risk escalating into a wider regional conflict and urged the British government to avoid deeper involvement. Speakers invoked past Western interventions as cautionary precedents and called for diplomatic solutions rather than military escalation.
The march moved toward the U.S. embassy in Vauxhall, where participants chanted anti-war slogans and called for Britain to stop arming Israel and to distance itself from the strikes. A smaller counter-protest supporting the United States and Israel gathered across the Thames; police closed roads and maintained a substantial presence to prevent clashes. Metropolitan Police deployed about 1,000 officers for the operation and reported 12 arrests during the demonstrations.
Protesters expressed anger over civilian casualties in the region and emphasized solidarity with Iranian and Palestinian populations; some speakers framed the actions of the U.S. and Israel as emblematic of wider Western aggression. Organizers said the demonstration was intended to send a clear message to the government—highlighting public opposition to further military engagement and urging policymakers to pursue non-military avenues.
Authorities monitored the route and set conditions on the march to manage safety and minimize disruption, citing heightened tensions from recent related protests across the city. Despite the presence of rival groups and strong emotions on both sides, the policing operation focused on keeping demonstrators apart and ensuring public order as London saw multiple gatherings linked to the Middle East crisis.
