UK mounts operation to support thousands of Britons in Middle East

BBC:

The UK is mounting an operation to support at least 200,000 British nationals in the Gulf, as Iran continues to launch strikes in the region in response to an ongoing attack by Israel and the US.

More than 94,000 Britons have registered their location and contact details to receive direct Foreign Office updates, with the majority being holidaymakers in the United Arab Emirates or people in transit at major hub airports.

Government officials are understood to be formulating potential plans to evacuate UK nationals, should airspace in the region remain closed.

Flights have been diverted or cancelled, with journeys to and from Tel Aviv, Dubai, Doha and other international hubs affected.

The government has asked British nationals in Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, the Palestinian territories, Qatar and UAE to register their presence to receive updates.

British nationals are currently advised to stay where they are and follow the instructions of local authorities, as well as monitor the Foreign Office’s travel advice, which officials expect to change rapidly.

Speaking on Sunday evening, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said at least 200,000 British citizens were in the region, including residents, families on holiday and those in transit.

He said Iran had launched sustained attacks across the region and had “hit airports and hotels where British citizens are staying”.

“I ask all our people in the region to please register your presence and follow Foreign Office travel advice,” he added.

“I know this is a deeply worrying time. And we will continue to do all we can to support you.”

British nationals transiting through Dubai and Doha are being advised to remain indoors in a secure location and avoid travelling outside if possible.

This is the first time the government’s crisis response programme has covered more than one country, and it has never previously handled so many people.

Government officials have told the BBC this number is expected to continue to rise in the coming hours.

The Israeli military said it had continued to hit sites in central Tehran following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in an airstrike on Saturday morning.

Iran has vowed to retaliate with “devastating blows” and has fired missiles at many of its neighbouring countries as well as US military targets.

In Dubai, residents have mainly stayed indoors as their city has been hit by missiles and drones, with luxury hotels and its main airport – the world’s busiest by passenger traffic – damaged.

Elsewhere, UK nationals in Saudi Arabia have been told to “remain indoors in a secure location”, while those in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, and Turkey have been instructed to “remain vigilant” and take shelter if advised to do so.

It is understood no British nationals have been killed or injured so far in the conflict.

But Defence Secretary John Healey said some 300 UK troops had been within “a few hundred yards” of an Iranian strike on a base in Bahrain.

Meanwhile, Sir Keir spoke to regional leaders to express his “solidarity” in the face of “dangerous Iranian escalation”.

The UK played no role in the strikes on Saturday, but British planes are patrolling in the Middle East as part of a defensive operation, and on Sunday an RAF Typhoon jet operating out of Qatar shot down an Iranian drone, the Ministry of Defence said.