The RAF has evacuated 63 British nationals from Israel as Tel Aviv and Tehran continue to exchange fire, the foreign secretary has said. The flight left Tel Aviv on Monday afternoon, taking vulnerable Britons and their immediate family to Cyprus. A British national was also injured in Israel during an Iranian missile attack, David Lammy said. In a statement to MPs, Lammy repeated his plea to Iran to return to the negotiating table following the US's strike on its nuclear programme. He said: "My message for Tehran was clear, take the off ramp, dial this thing down, and negotiate with the United States seriously and immediately. "Be in no doubt, we are prepared to defend our personnel, our assets and those of our allies and partners." The RAF A400 aircraft departed Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport with 63 British nationals plus their immediate family who are eligible to travel. The Foreign Office said further flights would be based on demand and the security situation. British nationals still in Israel have been urged to register their presence with the UK government. Israeli airspace has been closed - leaving thousands of British nationals stranded - since the conflict started earlier this month when Israel attacked nuclear sites in Iran, prompting Tehran to respond with missile strikes. Lammy said the British national injured in a strike in Israel was being offered consular support. BBC News has approached the Foreign Office for more details. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump have claimed that Iran has been preparing to build a nuclear weapon. Iran has repeatedly denied planning to do so. Urging Iran to return to the negotiating table, Lammy told the Commons: "The alternative is an even more destructive and far-reaching conflict, which could have unpredictable consequences." He added the situation "presents serious risk to British interests" in the Middle East. British nationals in Qatar have also been advised to shelter in place until further notice.
RAF flight evacuates British nationals from Israel
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"RAF Evacuates British Nationals Amid Rising Tensions in Israel"
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TruthLens AI Summary
The Royal Air Force (RAF) successfully evacuated 63 British nationals from Israel amid escalating tensions between Tel Aviv and Tehran, according to a statement from the UK's Foreign Secretary, David Lammy. The evacuation flight departed from Tel Aviv on Monday afternoon, transporting vulnerable British citizens and their immediate family members to safety in Cyprus. This operation comes in light of an Iranian missile attack that injured a British national in Israel, highlighting the immediate dangers faced by those remaining in the region. Lammy emphasized the necessity for Iran to return to diplomatic negotiations, particularly following recent US military actions targeting Iran's nuclear program. He expressed a clear message to Tehran, urging them to engage seriously in discussions with the United States to de-escalate the situation and avoid further conflict.
The ongoing conflict has led to the closure of Israeli airspace, leaving many British nationals stranded in the country. The Foreign Office has advised those still in Israel to register their presence with the UK government for further assistance. As the situation continues to evolve, Lammy indicated that additional evacuation flights would be arranged based on demand and the changing security landscape. He pointed out that the conflict poses significant risks to British interests in the Middle East and urged British nationals in Qatar to remain sheltered until further notice. With the situation remaining volatile, the UK government is taking steps to protect its citizens while advocating for a return to peaceful negotiations to prevent a broader conflict that could have unpredictable consequences.
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