The UK government has issued an urgent call for British nationals in Lebanon to leave immediately, as the conflict between Israel and Lebanon escalates, with more than 500 people reported killed in the last 24 hours.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and Ministry of Defence (MoD) are bolstering contingency operations to support British nationals in the region.
Around 700 UK troops are being deployed to Cyprus, ready to support evacuation or emergency response efforts. This military deployment is supported by Border Force and FCDO officials, ensuring all necessary preparations are in place for a swift response if the situation worsens.
The Royal Air Force has transport helicopters and aircraft on standby, while RFA Mounts Bay and Royal Navy destroyer HMS Duncan remain stationed in the eastern Mediterranean to assist with potential evacuations and support operations.
Defence Secretary John Healey stressed the urgency of the situation, stating: “Events in the past hours and days have demonstrated how volatile this situation is, which is why our message is clear: British nationals should leave now.”
He also praised the UK military personnel deploying to the region for their professionalism and commitment. Healey reiterated the government’s call for all sides to step back from the violence and work towards an immediate ceasefire.
The UK’s contingency plan builds on an already significant diplomatic and military presence in the region. RAF Akrotiri, a key UK base in Cyprus, will play a central role in supporting British citizens if the situation deteriorates further.
The UK has been closely monitoring the unfolding conflict, which has raised concerns of wider instability in the Middle East. Ministers have held several meetings with intelligence chiefs, diplomats, and military leaders to assess the situation and prepare for further escalation.
The UK government’s warning comes after reports of increasing violence in Lebanon, following retaliatory strikes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants. The conflict has triggered a mass exodus of civilians, with foreign nationals among those seeking safety. The FCDO has advised against all travel to Lebanon since the start of the escalation, emphasising the dangers posed by the conflict.
While diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire continue, the UK’s immediate priority is the safety of its citizens. The British government has confirmed that it will maintain a strong military presence in the region to support British nationals and allies. Ministers are working closely with international partners to monitor the situation and provide necessary assistance.
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.
Good thing to do but where will up to 10,000 people go? send Israel the bill.
Send Hezzbollah the bill, it was their decision to fire the first shot, they could have stayed out of this conflict but chose to fight in support of Hamas.
…and the Palestinians in the west bank being attacked by the Israeli “settlers”…you forgot that
What has that got to do with Hezzbollah firing rockets into Israel ?
are we quoting the BBC +BIASED antisemitic BROADCASTING CORPORATION)?)
Send them both the bill, the Middle East is curse on us all, never be peace there. Ordinary people who are not nutters always suffer. And we have for 70 plus years foot the bill one way or another.
Indeed, if Israel disappeared tomorrow there would still be conflict over there it’s not about land, it’s all about religious/cultural supremacy.
Even Muslims kill Muslims its about power, there will NEVER be peace there.
they’ve had over a thousand years of the conflict and hatred. and if peace was found, nobody would have anything to do 😔 and they’d fight among themselves remove Iran from the equation and there’s more chance it’s time to deal with the mad mullahs and pring even a touch of sanity
War, hate, in fighting is the national past time. they know nothing else.
leave the whole region to destroy itself
i wish, been a drain on the UK since 1945
Absolutely! I lived in Western Galilee in northern Israel so I know what I am talking about when I say that people need to remember that Israel lives in a very, very tough neighbourhood that only respects strength – you hit me, I will hit you twice as hard. Hamas started this war by their total barbarism on 7th-Oct. Nobody talks about how they use their own people as human shields and about how they take the aid, fuel and medicine for themselves and their fighters. How they don’t let their own people into the tunnels they built for shelter… Read more »
the way that they are doing it is causing more harm than good
Honestly I don’t see the argument. Every Israeli key military infrastructure is situated in civilian dense areas? Human shields. Tunnels? The same one Israel is pumping thousands of litres of water into? So you would rather the civilians drown underground where the atrocities are hidden. That much is clear. With regards to queers, I think you’ll find that they won’t give a toss about who you fancy when everyone’s starving, you see such matters are thrown out the window when it’s about survival, they’ve got enough on their plate to be throwing people of any buildings that haven’t been flattened… Read more »
the whole region should be left to eat itself and do the world a favour we eliminated Gaddafi and Saddam, for less than Iran has done time is coming to deal with the Iranians one and for all
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Sir Keir has said that 10,000 Brits should leave on commercial aircraft right now. There are two commercial airports in the entire country. How many empty seats does he think there’ll be? The impracticability astounds me. If the time to leave is now (as Sir Keir insists “…really, really clear: now is the time to leave”), the Navy should start the evacuation. However according to the Telegraph, John Healey says, “Our government is ensuring all preparations are in place to support British Nationals should the situation deteriorate.” Not only are these badly mixed messages, it lays the goverment open to… Read more »
Brits were told to start leaving weeks ago but it seems they ignored the FCM advice
shouldn’t be out there anyway
No you misunderstand our government and PM. His government have repeatedly instructed British citizens to leave for the last 4-5 weeks. They have had plenty of time to buy a ticket, board a plane and fly somewhere outside the conflict zone. The British tax payer should not be picking up the bill or risking our armed forces lives saving people who are frankly too dumb to follow instructions and think they know better. Consulate, embassy staff and humanitarian aid workers are different they frequently remain until the last minute and then help evacuating, don’t have any issues with that. The… Read more »
Thousand of people who live in the Lebanon have ignored advice to leave their homes and businesses to become refugees. It’s no surprise that they haven’t followed instructions; that’s one heck of an ask by a new and largely untested government. I can’t imagine how I’d react if the Foreign Office told me in a advisory way to give up my life and buy a plane ticket to they-don’t-care-where with no help guaranteed when I got there. I also might choose to leave it until the last minute. Some will have family they can impose on in the UK, other… Read more »
I’ve never understood what drives British citizens to be in that part of the world.work? family? stupidity.
our PM seems to change policy every time he can get on the TV.
Those that we evacuate we have to house etc, that is how it works. If they leave of their own free will then not so. Yes they have been told to leave weeks ago but not sure its that easy just up and go when your life etc is there.
We are a bit full at the moment Afghan/Ukraine/ Boat people, etc. Not sure what people expect the Government to do?
they should all have British roots or residence status and must have some kind of family support and people who they can turn to. they were out in a country which will always be a warzone they’re getting a free ride home. I don’t think the nation has any obligations t them financial or otherwise
Um lets see on the last bit, after all it is a labour government
kier is out of his depth already sleaze is in the air. id wager thousands of people who voted for them wouldn’t do it now.the minsters Rayner and reeves are an embarrassment.
starmer is a bin man in a Tory suit.rayner and Rachel reeves are his glove puppets
So black is white, as usual?
no its a mess we as a nation have foot the bill for again. The middle east is a curse
and we should stay away from it.
Yes but we won’t , we have a very large middle eastern population here it will get bigger and we will be up the poo creak with out as paddle.
there never seems to be a strategic plan for this kind of scenario. this is where a helicopter carrier with a big number of large people capacity to enable the removal of big numbers of expats and what have you to be retrieved in the part of the world where the scenarios are likely to happen.
Did we not sell our helicopter carrier off?
as usual ye because they have the same manifestos. labour are boilermakers in tory suits and skirts
“ In fact, the image at the topic of this article was taken during this operation.”
should read
In fact, the image at the top of this article was taken during this operation.
Has an oddly familiar feel to it…
I hope everyone realises how dangerous this is. There are plenty of crazies out there who would love nothing better than to hit an RN [ok RFA bout that doesn’t matter to them] ship.
I do have to question why the Bay in theatre doesn’t have CIWS fitted. She will need at least a T45 around to protect her.
She will indeed. Just like HMS Duncan mentioned in the article.
I would hope RFA Mounts bay does at least have a Phalanx CIWS fitted in the Bows
£££££
Infact Hezbollah itself would like nothing better that to attack and sink an RN ship or down an RN rotor…and they are capable of doing that, they have plenty of anti-shipping missiles and anti air missiles..this would not be a rescue from a benign environment. British forces would be entering an essentially hostile nation. As for sending a RN or RFA ship to the eastern med without CIW systems fitted, that was very poor and needs investigation as to why it happened, the eastern med is a warzone with 2 hot conflicts and a load of heavily armed groups hate… Read more »
Saddam was dealt with for doing less than the mad mullahs of Iran have done it is surely time to deal with them and the poison that they feed around the WHOLE PLANET
I don’t disagree, the problem is multifaceted and a mix of domestic western politics, regional politics, geopolitical considerations , geostrategic considerations, strategic and operational considerations. basically it’s a f%cking nightmare. Iraq was a walk in the park compared to Iran 1) the Iraqi leadership did not have the active support of pretty much any of the population ( they all wanted him dead). 2) the Iraqi leader was never fully plugged into terror and extremist organisation in the way Iran is ( it was a far more secular power). 3) its next door neighbours were perfectly happy to facilitate its… Read more »
I question in general how many Phalanx mounts are actually serviceable across the entire navy. Earlier this year PoW deployed to Steadfast Defender with none fitted and two Tides (also completely unarmed) and only a single frigate escort; not a single one of the Tide class has one fitted since CSG 21. The T-45s in long term PiP upgrades have them all absent which surely should allow mounts for the active ships to receive some – but no. With the 8 T-26s (16 guns) , 3 FSS (6) and 4-6 MRSS (potentially up to 12 unless they go with the… Read more »
The issue is more trained operators and maintainers from what I hear.
A contract was awarded a while back to upgrade and maintain.
So few guns are exposed to the elements I can see that being not that much of an issue.
Given that T31 are on 40mm and that you can always assume 30% of the fleet is in deep refit I’m not sure there is that much of a defect in Phalanx units?
I saw reported recently that the new Bofors 40mm MK-4 being brought in on the T-31 only requires 30% of the maintenance time that the DS30M mount does – and that’s already designed to be a high rate of readiness and easy to maintain system; assuming that report was correct of course. If true it’d be a no brainer to expand the use of the new gun across the current and future fleet if maintenance of the current (and very important) CIWS systems is struggling so much. Of course it’s never that simple but it makes sense from the armchair… Read more »
that 40mm Bofors would be a perfect sized gun for the pointy end of a river. you could, if you wanted, mount the 6 inch gun from the Blake, which US in storage in the sheds behind fountain lake jetty in Bromley as are several phalanx units undergoing manufacturers upgrades and refits.
sorry, I Pompey
much of the weaponry from Montrose and Monmouth are still in storage in Portsmouth naval base this equipment should have been redeployed elsewhere as soon as it was removed. i cannot remember what the phalanx fit on those two T23’S was when they were dumped up Fareham creek.
Hi Andy,
T-23 has never mounted Phalanx.
kits been announced that a air defence warship will accompany it.
the case for a medium sized HLP is made more apparent in situations like this the ability to get larger numbers into or from the coast is best done by chopper’s a converted ship from trade could be a cheap way to get the ability enhanced
How much of this is helping with evacuating British nationals from Lebanon and how much is re-inforcing the British Sovereign Bases at RAF Akrotiri/Episcopi and Dhekelia against Russian/Iran/Houthi threats?
negotiate a return to Malta.
those British airfields on Cyprus are very, very important and would be primary targets in not sure what defences against say cruise missiles exist there
This isn’t a conflict between Israel and Lebanon. It is a retaliation against Hezbollah, a terrorist quasi state within a state, for the constant attacks on northern Israel. Israel would be doing a favour to Lebanon if it could destroy Hezbollah..
Agree and I think Israel is doing a decent job decapitating the head of Hezbollah and going after their munitions stockpiles, which of course are stored in homes, schools and warehouses inside civilian areas. Hezbollah and Hamas use the civilian populations as human shields. Utter cowards.
gez ollah are Iran. in western jeans and trainers
I stated this 4 weeks ago when the first governmental advice came out for British citizens to leave Lebanon.
They have been warned repeatedly. Any citizens of the UK still there only have themselves to blame for any subsequent ill fortune that befalls them.
We cannot not, not should we expect our armed forces to risk their lives to save people too damn stupid to listen to what they are instructed to do.
Our consulate and embassy staff are different as are the humanitarian aid workers. Everyone else should have left already.
Great words. There has to be a dam good reason for “British” citizens to still be in Lebanon, and anyone rescued later on, who was not there on “government”, “News- reporting” or “humanitarian” business should pay for their trip back out.
agreed .
people should be more intelligent than to go to the cesspool on the planet. that part of the world has been and always Will be in a state of war
labanon and Israel are always on the brink of a military issue. people there must know that. they should have their own plans for get out of the country already.
Interesting topic. There are about one million British Passport holders in Southern Africa-what if things were to fall apart here!!
They’d be buggered. 😂🤣😂🤣😂 It would take months to evacuate that many.
😂 Would not have even managed that many at the height of Pax Britannica!
i thought it already had
Here we go again 🙄
Never ends, does it? We had a similar situation in 1976 when I was on RFA Stromness. We, together with a frigate, were stationed off Haifa ready to evacuate Brits from internal disorder in Lebanon. Never happened in the end.
Interesting debate on present RMT and Nautilus Strike action should RFA Mounts Bay be used? Maybe the Cabinet Office and Treasury will make a proper offer and realise the RFA is an important resource!!!!!!
do we have enough tugs