The UK government has escalated efforts to support British nationals in Lebanon amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Officials have urged citizens to leave the country immediately due to the rapidly deteriorating situation.
Ministers from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and the Ministry of Defence have issued a stark warning to British nationals, advising them to leave while commercial flights are still available.
The government has dispatched additional personnel, including Border Force and consular officials, to the region to reinforce embassy staff and provide support.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy stressed the urgency of the situation, stating, “Tensions are high, and the situation could deteriorate rapidly. While we are working round the clock to strengthen our consular presence in Lebanon, my message to British nationals there is clear – leave now.”
He also mentioned the need for de-escalation and a diplomatic resolution, warning that the consequences of a broader conflict could be severe. “A widening of this conflict is in nobody’s interest – the consequences could be catastrophic. That’s why we continue to call for de-escalation and a diplomatic solution.”
According to a news release:
“The Government has called for British nationals in Lebanon to leave now as it bolsters its support for British nationals still in the Middle East. The UK continues to advise against all travel to Lebanon and advises British nationals still in the country to leave now while commercial options remain available. British nationals in Lebanon are also advised to sign up to Register Your Presence to receive the latest information and important updates directly from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
Officials have been sent to the region – including Lebanon – to provide additional support to embassy staff as part of government’s preparatory planning for a range of possible conflict scenarios, and with regional tensions rising. Consular experts will assist with strategic planning and responding to enquiries from British nationals to make sure they get the help and advice they need, and Border Force has deployed officers who stand ready to aid consular operations.
With the potential for exit routes out of Lebanon – including roads – being affected, limited, or closed, due to events escalating with little warning, teams will continue to urge British nationals to leave while commercial options remain available. Military personnel are also in the process of deploying to the region to provide Embassies with operational support to help British nationals. This is alongside Landing ship RFA Cardigan Bay and HMS Duncan already being in the eastern Mediterranean to support allies with humanitarian requirements, with the Royal Air Force also putting transport helicopters on standby.”
Defence Secretary John Healey highlighted the role of the Armed Forces, stating, “Our Armed Forces will always step up to support British citizens around the world and reinforce regional stability with their professionalism and bravery.”
He reiterated the call for de-escalation in the region and spoke of the need for a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of hostages, and a diplomatic path to peace and security. “As I told leaders in the Middle East this week, de-escalation must be the primary focus in the region, and we are urging all to dial down tensions. There must be an end to the fighting, an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, and a diplomatic path to peace and security.”
This potential evacuation operation is similar to Operation Highbrow in 2006 when the British Ministry of Defence undertook a large-scale evacuation of civilians from Beirut during the Lebanon War. In fact, the image at the topic of this article was taken during this operation.
Helicopters initially transported the most vulnerable to Cyprus, followed by Royal Navy ships ferrying evacuees across the Mediterranean Sea. This operation, involving both Royal Navy ships and Royal Air Force helicopters, was the largest evacuation the UK had been involved in since Dunkirk and before the Aghan withdrawal.
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I wonder if Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden will be helping out again this time.
A good sing along 🎤🎸🎶🤗
j preferred Paul diannio as maidens vocalist god, um getting old
Not looking great over there now – not good news for the world in general.
The new governments call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza as part of negotiations will in my opinion come to naught , their first priority should on on stopping any further escalation.
Hopefully the evacation plans (at least) are actioned without issue.
The reality is the UK government have pretty much zero influence on Israel…only the U.S. has and quite frankly that’s limited…infact one could say that Isreal tends to have the upper hand in that relationship.
I think there needs to be clearer messaging then advice to leave Lebannon. The message should be “get out now, whilst you still can otherwise we will not be risking our armed forces personnel to come and rescue you when you do not hear and action this advice.”
Job done. I cannot believe the folly of some people who rest their laurels on “it will never happen to me”. First rule principle the poo frequently does and will come flying at you.
A number of the civilians who’ll need evacuating will be government employee’s. Embessay staff etc. Generally the evacuations happen when the government staff is withdrawn, which seems like a sensible cut off point?
I hope they have a solid plan to get the embassy staff out, as this could go very badly wrong for them very quickly. If all out war breaks out, the uk will be considered an ally of isreal and attacks could easily happen against the embassy and politically they won’t be pulled out until well past the last minute as the foreign office won’t want to be seen as inflaming the situation.
Well, according to the Daily Mail (I know not the most reliable source) the Ranger Regiment is deployed in Lebanon, so they’ll have a con-plan for evacuating embassy staff I’m sure.
We had to rely on support from the US last time (sudan wasnt it?) as we had no helicopters with long enough legs to do it ourselves. As we have found out the US is not the most reliable partner, so just have to hope they help again. If the rangers have been deployed (doesn’t appear to be the role they were formed for, more the air assault brigades role) then hopefully they brought some chinooks with them and a friendly nation to provide air to air refueling. Ok they could go out by land but that could be very… Read more »
The RAF used C-17’s, C-130’s and A400M’s in the Sudan Evacuation, all of them have ferry ranges long enough to fly from Akrotiri to Sudan for an evac (hint, think about where the Sovereign Base Areas are in relation to Lebanon and then think about ferry ranges).
Oh? Please enlighten me about the role that Rangers are for?
Those are planes, planes can’t evac from a embassy, you either need to go out by helicopter or land. What friendly bases do we have anywhere near Lebanon if it all flares up, considering no local country will want any involvement as fear of counter attack.
Rangers were setup to train and build foreign forces.
Rangers do more than just that, although that could be considered to be their primary task.
The regiment’s task will be as follows: “It will be designed to support and conduct special operations discreetly in high-risk environments.” Source – Future Soldier.
CDS, Gen Carter said in 2021: “the rangers will be “special forces” and will “go beyond training, advising, and assisting” to “support local operations”.
Noooo, mate. Noooo. Rangers carry out ops that SF have been used for previously, not training forces. Very much Grey Zone stuff, using both military and not so military vehicles. ( I think I found a couple of types Dern?) I might understand the confusion many have with this. It was the SIG, the Specialist Infantry Group, that formed to train friendly forces. Those Bns then became the initial core of the Ranger Reg, and the SIG was renamed the Special Ops Bde, of which Rangers are a part. Training friendly forces is now the province of 11 SFAB Security… Read more »
Highly unlikely Jordan would want to be involved. If this kicks off its highly likely the whole middle east will be a powder keg, no one will want to actively be involved as risking a civil war in their own country and terrorist attacks.
Landing some transport planes somewhere in Lebanon isn’t probably a major issue, but getting from the planes to the embassy is where the challenge and risk lies.
Well, you asked about bases for ops.
Our SF, and the SHF, have used Jordan before, which is why I Suggested it for desert landings using fixed wing.
Or, as Dern says, just fly direct from Cyprus in the Chinooks.
Does a chinook have the the legs for that? They would also need apache or similar providing protection.
As I’ve tried to point out several times: YES.
Yes Steve, those where planes, as I was pointing out that the RAF used them to evacuate people from Sudan. I then pointed out that you should look at British bases that are near Lebanon and asked you to consider the ranges of helicopters on that base. But you failed to take step 1 and locate the nearest bases: The nearest British Bases to Lebanon do not NEED any local country to give us permission because there are British bases, on British Soil, within 200 miles of Beirut. And nope. Rangers where not setup to train and build foreign forces,… Read more »
Didnt in sudan the US air lifted our forces into and out of the embassy? Civilians were taken out by plane.
There was a back up plan to take out via road but it was considered too risky by the US.
According to the Guardian the evacuation from the Embassy was a joint Anglo-French operation, using the Parachute Regiment, and the RAF. But again this is irrelevant because:
Beirut is in range of British Helicopters operating out of British bases, which are on UK soil.
I think there is a concern that if this kicks off that an airlift would be very vulnerable in such a built up area. I know that a second Bay class is nearing the theatre with RM already in Cyprus and more on the way so we are obviously keeping all options open.
Fingers crossed everyone stays safe and those that need to can get out before things deteriorate.
Whatever is decided, we’ve got plenty of assets. Air bases in Cyprus, SOF reportedly on the ground, LSG’s off the coast, if there was ever a place we’d be better situated for this kind of thing I couldn’t think of it.
Agreed, it certainly demonstrates the usefulness of such bases and having a good range assets to utilise.
Nearest British base should be flat deck of a ship. Closer you get without risk the higher volume of evac sorties.
Look up a couple of replies.
Messaging has been clear. They’ve said Get Out Now.
But you’re right there also needs to be an additional line of ‘There will be no assistance past this date, you’re on your own after that’. And stick to it.
Border Farce and FO will be getting ready for their usual hand wringing routine of nothing we can do.
This goes on until any extraction is difficult expensive and dangerous.
Then the military will get called in.
I mean, realistically what would we expect either of those to do?
Border Farce – I have no idea.
They will be pulled out on H&S grounds as soon as things get rough.
Farce should be pre clearing people for military evacuation. But if they took civilian flights then I’ve no idea what they are doing there.
Can FO issue passports anymore?
Kind of what I’m saying. Neither of them are realistically in a position to evacuate people, they are not equipped for it and are not set up for it.
Even when we where evacuating people from France in 2010, it was the military that did it, because we’re the ones with the training and the assets.
Consular section of the Embassy should pre-clear people for evac. Maybe BF is just to reinforce that team to ensure faster processing?
I agree
Or they are there to help out with the customs formalities when British Citizens turn up in the foreign countries they have been forced to evacuate too. 🤔
Won’t British citizens in Lebanon evacuate themselves or be evacuated to the UK?
Yep typically you need to notify that you’re in country when thing start getting a bit unsettled. I did this is East Timor, thankfully didn’t need the help of HMG.
Are equivalent preparations being made for w/drawl of UK citizens from Israel? Dunno, the prospect of up to 150K inbound missiles could be modestly concerning? 🤔😳
Hopefully, Uncle Sugar is making similar preparations. 🤞
Israel has most of NATO protecting it and it’s waters, Lebanon barely has an Air defense structure
In reality the embassy and Uk government officials would be staying in Israel, they are still open in Ukraine and Russia…the reason they will be evacuated from Lebanon is because of Hezbollah…if Lebanon was a functioning nation that was not home to an extra National extremist army…they would stay.
Yep if Hezbollah attack Israel, there will be an Israeli response , any westerner will be fair game in Lebanon from that point.
Isn’t there also a British army detachment already in Lebanon prior to all this latest flare up?
no seriously we have got this: is the minster on holiday? have the french left yet? any animals needing priority extraction. how many interpreters coming?
It looks like pretty much every nation is now making preparations to remove their staff and nationals. That would suggest the mood music is that Isreal will cross the boarder. Not sure how dicey this could get, the big question will be how Iran uses this to try and destabilise Jordan…this could be a time of critical risk for some of the moderate governments in the region…also will Iran ( and Russia) push fighters and equipment via Syria….Israel will be taking a big risk fighting a major engagement on 2 fronts.
I have not been followng the details of this. What would Iran get out of destabilising Jordan. Won’t Iran be preparing for war with Israel and not wish to be distracted?
Jordan is pro west, and at least tolerant of Israel. They have a vested interest in the destruction of Hamas, and are outright obstructionist when it comes to Iranian “Grey Zone” activities.
Iran has every reason to want Jordan destabilised and sidelined.
Hi Dern- that’s a pretty good summary of the regional geo politics.
Thanks Dern.
Essentially Iran and Jordan are not happy bed fellows and have not been for a long time, Iran has been gunning for Jordan as much as it has Isreal…it’s just more of a secret war…Jordan has been on the brink for a long time now and has been propped up with huge cash injections from the Arab gulf states…as they all know what Iran is trying to do in Jordan. essentially Jordan has become the largest refugee camp on the planet…as most of the flows from Syria and Iraq have ended up there..it’s got 18% unemployment and serous economic issue..Iran… Read more »
That’s a good read Jonathan – thanks for posting.
Thanks Jonathan for taking the trouble to write such a comprehensive analysis. Jordan gets little press here. I had thought that Iran would not have much energy to cause trouble in Jordan as their ‘fight’ is with Israel but that clearly is not the case. Perhaps another factor is that Jordan gets its oil from Iraq?
It’s one of the ties as Iran sees it, they have in reality not been friendly since the revolution. But it’s only really since the normalisation of relations with Israel that Iran has seen Jordan as a block that needs removing….and with the start of the Hamas Israel war it’s been actually undertaking subversion of the state. The attack from Iran over Jordan’s airspace was as much about..setting up Jordan as anything else. Just before the attack Iran publicly said that it was monitoring Jordan’s reaction and that if it intervened it would be the next target….the moment Jordan did… Read more »
You last line is also the elephant in the room for the 2 state solution for Palestine/Israel. What does the Palestine state look like, a middle of the road liberal ME democracy or a UN recognised proxy of Iran. I think the latter is highly likely.
indeed, least anyone forget that Isreal completely disengaged from Gaza and a lot of aid and support went in..problem was the more moderate and secular Palestinian nationalists ( and that’s a ME moderate, not western) were immediately overthrown and shot by the nutters in Hamas…whose only goal is the destruction Israel. So Israel built its walls and sea blockade…and we are were we are…if you could ensure you could have a Fatah based nationalist government supported by Jordan a two state solution could work…..but on the ground the reality is even Egypt built a wall between it and Gaza because… Read more »
Thanks Jonathan. Very erudite.
Its makes you wonder why we haven’t gone for the head of the snake some time ago. Perhaps we’re to busy blaming a country with shared western values for all the ME problems rather than going after the real problem. Iran isn’t stable its held together by a small % of the population who are ruthless religious loons. We need to take leaf from Russia and Irans play books and destabilise it. The Iranian people will do the rest. Direct conflict won’t do any good the Persians are very patriotic, so a direct war will see many who don’t normally… Read more »
What benefit did they get from destabilising Yemen, plenty they can now chuck missiles into the red sea readily.
More assets Iran can get around Israel the harder it will be for the Israel to defend. They can easily start funneling arms into the west back also.
Thanks, fair point. Things look bleak (bleaker than usual) in the ME right now, particularly possible evac from Lebanon( I heard that the families of Embassy officials had already left?). Then followed by what?
Not sure if Iran will retaliate against Israel with a ‘measured response’ like last time (April) – just the 300 missiles and drones, wasn’t it? – or something more massive?
I think it will be bigger and coordinated with Irans proxies involved to push defences beyond the limits.
I think Israels days are numbered tbh.
I doubt Israel’s days are numbered, not with the USA as their military equipment supplier and ally.
Why do we have to evacuate people who are also dual Lebanese Citizens? Why are we responsible for them when they’re in their country of origina?
Because they’re British Citizens.
I think what jack mean is he would only evacuate the citizens born in the UK…I don’t think he realises you can be born in the UK and have duel citizenship.
I mean, even if you aren’t born in the UK, and have dual citizenship, you’re still a subject of His Majesty and are afforded the protections that come with that. If that’s a problem then the solution is not extending citizenship in the first place, not creating a two tier citizenship.
I know we’re probably in agreement here, just frustrated and venting.
Indeed, if your a citizen then you are a citizen…in this county we operate a system of duel citizenship..and that goes either way, a British citizen can gain citizenship of another nation and become a duel national or a citizen of a different nation can gain British citizenship and become a duel national..some lucky people are even born that way…if the commentator himself Could become a duel national and I would expect he would be pretty instant on his rights as a citizen even if he did become a duel national…..some nations don’t allow duel nationality we do..simple as.
Its not the UK citizens. Our family have dual nationality and we have it for exactly this reason having lived in some of these less stable places. Its when the press comes up with headlines like ‘NHS staff refused evacuation’ but of course the person is actually on a work visa and isn’t a citizen or has ILR (their choice), so actually has no rights to be evacuated by HMG. But the press has made it look like they do because they employed by the NHS. All well and good but I doubt an individual working in London for BP… Read more »
Because they are British…infact many dual nationals start as only British citizens and then become duel national through marriage….so do you think it’s appropriate to pick up the duel nationals who were born in the UK and married a Lebanese..person…what about their duel national children…do we leave them behind and just evacuate the people born in Britain….what about if the parents are duel nationals due to marriage and one child was born in the Uk and the other child was born in Lebanon ( they will still have duel nationality)..but they have all gone on to visit granny..do we evacuate… Read more »
As a dual national, one is not afforded diplomatic representation in your other country. Thats why the question.
From GOV.UK
Travelling abroadAs a dual national you cannot get diplomatic help from the British government when you are in the other country where you hold citizenship.
For example, if you hold both British and French citizenship you cannot get diplomatic help from the UK when you’re in France.
Dual citizenship – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Doesn’t apply unless you’re Iranian or Lebanese?
It does not apply in regards to an extra national army of nutters…who will hold and or execute any British nationals they find if it all kicks off.
That specific bit is about normal relations…..not an army of nutters or force majeure comes into play …if we had dual nationals in say Lithuanian and it was just about to fall to Russia via an insurrection and we knew the insurrectionist would threaten our nationals we would get them out if we could….we don’t have diplomatic relations with extra national nutters so it does not count.
this kind of situation crop’s up every year then u.k should have a dedicated ship to carry out the job. a ship bought from trade wouldn’t break the bank.
We sort of have one, it’s called the RFA Argus…..
40 years ago we would have acquired a ship converted in less than 2 weeks and have helis and Harriers flying from it.