The UK has sent 700 troops to Cyprus to prepare for an emergency evacuation of its citizens in Lebanon, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer urging those still in the country to leave immediately.
The government has announced that military teams are being mobilised to provide further support to British citizens in Lebanon as Israel bombs the south of the country.
The Royal Air Force is also keeping planes and helicopters on standby to provide support if needed.
The new British troops add to the significant military presence of British forces based at RAF Akrotiri (Agrotur) in Cyprus and the Royal Navy ships RFA Mounts Bay and HMS Duncan.
Defence Secretary John Healey left the Labour Party conference early and held a meeting with ministers, intelligence chiefs and diplomats on Tuesday afternoon to test the government’s planning.
This is seen as the first phase of contingency plans for Lebanon, as the government tries to avoid the chaos of evacuating British citizens from Afghanistan in 2021.
The military teams will be supported by Border Force and Foreign Office officials.
Keir Starmer urged Israel and Lebanon to ‘step back from the brink’ and said the government was ‘accelerating contingency plans’ to rescue British citizens.
Starmer, in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, said he would discuss Lebanon with world leaders.
‘The main message I will be giving tonight will be to British citizens in Lebanon to leave the country immediately and I want to reiterate that,” the Guardian quoted Starmer as saying on the plane.
The British leader said he was ‘concerned’ about the situation and argued that there was a need for de-escalation, a ceasefire and a step back from the brink.
