The UK government has begun evacuating British nationals from Israel and other Middle East conflict zones, with the first flight departing Tel Aviv on Monday afternoon. Foreign Secretary David Lammy confirmed that military flights are being scrambled as more than 1,000 UK citizens seek to leave the region amid escalating missile attacks between Israel and Iran.
An RAF A400M aircraft carrying 63 British nationals took off from Tel Aviv for Cyprus, where passengers will transfer to a civilian charter flight to the UK. Lammy told the House of Commons that the situation is 'ongoing and fast-moving', with further evacuation flights planned based on demand and security conditions. Around 4,000 British nationals have registered their presence in Israel with the Foreign Office.
Lammy also confirmed that one British national has been injured in the attacks in Israel and is receiving consular support. The British embassy in Tehran is now operating remotely after staff were evacuated on Friday, limiting the UK's ability to assist nationals in Iran. British nationals in Qatar have been advised to 'shelter in place' after a US airbase there was targeted.
Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel pressed Lammy on whether the US strikes against Iran are lawful, but Lammy repeatedly declined to answer. A YouGov poll shows 48% of Britons do not support the US bombing campaign, compared to 22% who do. The Liberal Democrats condemned the US actions, with foreign affairs spokesperson Calum Miller criticising the Trump administration.
