A British national has been injured in Israel during missile attacks by Iran, the foreign secretary has said, telling the Commons that 63 others have been evacuated from Israel to Cyprus by the RAF.
It comes after the US attacked three nuclear sites in Iran overnight on Saturday and Tehran then launched a ballistic missile barrage against Israel.
In a statement to the Commons, David Lammy said: “This is a perilous moment in the Middle East, waves of strikes between Israel and Iran have now lasted for 10 days, continuing overnight.
“I know the whole House will have in their thoughts the many civilians impacted by the fighting. I can confirm today, this includes one British national, injured in Israel. We’ve reached out to offer consular support.”
It is understood that around 4,000 British nationals have registered their presence in Israel with the Foreign Office, while around 1,000 have requested a seat on a flight.
Further evacuation flights will be provided by the foreign office based on “demand and the latest security situation”, Mr Lammy said on Monday.
“Today’s flight will bring British nationals and their dependents safely back to the UK. While the situation in the Middle East remains volatile, we are working around the clock to secure more flights and bring more people home”, he added.
The government used an RAF A-400M aircraft for the flight from Tel Aviv to Cyprus – with passengers due to transfer on to a civilian charter aircraft for the onward journey to the UK this afternoon.
The FCDO last week said those with “greatest need” would be prioritised for flights, and British nationals plus their non-British immediate family members travelling with them are eligible.
All passengers must hold a valid travel document, and those non-British immediate family members will require valid visas/permission to enter or remain that was granted for more than six months, the FCDO said.
Ministers have warned British nationals not to make their way to the airport unless they are contacted, adding that the situation “remains volatile”.
Speaking on Monday, Mr Lammy also confirmed that the Iranian embassy in Tehran is now operating remotely after staff were evacuated from the centre on Friday.
“Our ability to support British nationals still in Iran is extremely limited. The House will know the Foreign Office has advised against travel to Iran since 2019. Those seeking to cross through its land crossings can contact the FCDO for assistance”, he said.
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