Defence Secretary John Healey flies to Cyprus as Middle East crisis escalates

Defence Secretary John Healey is in Cyprus as part of the Government's intensified preparations for a possible evacuation from Lebanon amid fears of escalating conflict in the Middle East. Mr Healey confirmed British forces' involvement in defending Israel against an onslaught of Iranian ballistic missiles, while Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer highlighted the danger of "miscalculation" after recent violence surged in the area.

It is believed that RAF jets played a part in countering the Iranian missiles aimed at Israel, a role that mirrors UK forces' previous defensive actions during Iran's drone and cruise missile attack on Israel last April, wherein RAF Typhoons were engaged. .

According to Tuesday night's statement, Mr Healey declared: "British forces have this evening played their part in attempts to prevent further escalation in the Middle East".

A substantial number of British troops, including RAF and Royal Navy units, are positioned in Cyprus, ready for any required evacuation of British citizens from Lebanon following Israel's launch of a terrestrial assault. .

On Wednesday, Mr Healey met with his Cypriot counterpart, Vasilis Palmas, for discussions concerning the emergent crisis. .

Israel reported that it intercepted numerous missiles that Iran fired on Tuesday, while Iran asserted that most projectiles reached their intended destinations. There have been no instant reports of casualties stemming from this incident.

In a statement from Downing Street regarding the crisis, Sir Keir Starmer said he was "deeply concerned that the region is on the brink and I am deeply concerned about the risk of miscalculation". He pointed out that Iran, with proxies including Hezbollah in Lebanon, had "menaced the Middle East for far too long".

The world is now anxiously waiting to see how Israel will respond to the Iranian attack, amid fears it could ignite a spiralling regional conflict. On Wednesday, Britons escaping Lebanon were scheduled to board a UK Government-chartered flight to safety, each seat costing £350.

A separate flight by Middle East Airlines also left Beirut’s airport for Heathrow. However, there are worries within Whitehall that further military action by Israel could lead to the closure of the airport, blocking the most direct exit route for the estimated 4-6,000 British nationals in Lebanon.

If this occurs, the only remaining option may be a military-facilitated evacuation coordinated from the British bases in Cyprus. On Wednesday, Israel issued a warning for people to evacuate another 24 villages across southern Lebanon as part of its ground campaign against Hezbollah.

In a separate development, Hezbollah claimed its fighters had forced Israeli troops to retreat following clashes in the Lebanese border town of Odaisseh. Iran confirmed it launched Tuesday’s strikes in retaliation for the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut last week.

As Jewish individuals celebrated Rosh Hashanah, marking the beginning of the new year, Sir Keir Starmer shared a poignant message on social media. He stated: "Rosh Hashanah is a joyous occasion. But this year, we approach it with anguish too as we remember the brutal acts of October 7 and, in more recent days, the deeply concerning escalation in the Middle East."

He further added, "As we hold those who lost their lives in our memory, my Government will do all we can to bring home the hostages.