The UK will ship 700 troops to Cyprus to organize for the potential evacuation of British nationals from Lebanon, No 10 is predicted to announce.
Preventing between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah has intensified in latest days and round 10,000 UK nationals are nonetheless understood to be residing in Lebanon.
Britain’s navy has been getting ready for months for the potential for an emergency evacuation and the Overseas Workplace (FCDO) has urged British nationals to depart Lebanon.
Defence Secretary John Healey mentioned the state of affairs within the Center East throughout a Cobra assembly held on Tuesday.
Talking after the Cobra assembly, Healey stated: “Our concern is all the time for the security of British nationals and our recommendation to them is to depart Lebanon now, that hasn’t modified.
“This was a gathering merely to be sure that we have plans in place for future developments.”
Requested if he feared a widening of the battle, Healey stated: “This was nearly planning for future developments, our recommendation hasn’t modified.
“Do not journey to Lebanon and in the event you’re a British nationwide, go away now.”
Cobra – or COBR – conferences are named after Cupboard Workplace Briefing Room A on Whitehall.
It’s an emergency response committee – a get collectively of ministers, civil servants, the police, intelligence officers and different officers applicable to the state of affairs they’re wanting into.
A senior navy supply informed the BBC the UK’s subsequent steps would rely upon what Hezbollah and Israel do subsequent and whether or not Lebanon’s worldwide airport stays open.
In addition to the RAF airbase at Akrotiri in Cyprus, the Royal Navy has two ships within the jap Mediterranean – HMS Duncan, a Sort 45 Air Defence destroyer and RFA Mounts Bay, a bigger provide ship with touchdown craft.
The Royal Navy evacuated British nationals by sea throughout the Lebanon warfare in 2006.
Tensions have been rising throughout the Center East since Hamas gunmen attacked Israel on 7 October final yr, killing about 1,200 individuals and taking 251 others as hostages.
Beforehand sporadic combating between Israel and Hezbollah escalated on 8 October – the day after Hamas’s unprecedented assault. Hezbollah fired at Israeli positions, in solidarity with Hamas.
Hezbollah has launched greater than 8,000 rockets at northern Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. It has additionally fired anti-tank missiles at armoured autos and attacked navy targets with explosive drones.
Final week Hezbollah’s communication units began exploding all throughout Lebanon.
Israel then lauched an enormous collection of air strikes on Monday which have to date killed 560 individuals in keeping with the Lebanese authorities.
Final yr, the British authorities helped co-ordinate the evacuation of British nationals from Gaza, with some 200 UK residents regarded as residing within the territory earlier than the warfare broke out.
Israel’s navy marketing campaign in Gaza has killed greater than 41,000 individuals since 7 October, in keeping with the Hamas-run well being ministry.
