The Royal Marines are reportedly on standby to lead a daring Dunkirk-style evacuation of British nationals residing in the Middle East. The proposed mission has drawn parallels with the heroic World War 2 Dunkirk rescue, where nearly 340,000 troops were evacuated under German pressure.
British forces have already conducted preliminary reconnaissance missions along the Lebanese border in anticipation of any escalation.
RAF jets were deployed on Saturday night to intercept Iranian drones following Tehran’s announcement of an attack on Israel, potentially leading to a significant regional escalation. The Ministry of Defence stated that RAF aircraft in Iraq and Syria were mobilised to counter “any airborne attacks within range of our existing missions,”.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps confirmed the readiness of the Royal Marines to assist any British citizens in the Middle East. He affirmed the Government’s commitment to aid any Brits caught in the region, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Meanwhile, officials in Jerusalem estimated that the drones, sighted over Iraq by security sources, would take hours to reach their targets. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak strongly condemned Iran’s “reckless attack” and pledged to “continue to stand up for Israel’s security and that of all our regional partners.”
Israeli sources have indicated that RAF and US warplanes intercepted Iranian drones headed for Israel over the Iraq-Syria border, edging the bitter rivals closer to a full-scale confrontation amidst the escalating Gaza conflict, with the US pledging unwavering support for Israel.
In a statement released late Saturday night, the Ministry of Defence declared: “In response to increased Iranian threats and the growing risk of escalation in the Middle East, the UK Government has been working with partners across the region to encourage de-escalation and prevent further attacks.”
The MoD continued, outlining its proactive measures: “We have moved several additional Royal Air Force jets and air refuelling tankers to the region. These will bolster Operation Shader, which is the UK’s existing counter-Daesh operation in Iraq and Syria.”
Furthermore, the MoD assured: “In addition, these UK jets will intercept any airborne attacks within range of our existing missions, as required.”
