Britain is relocating troops to Cyprus to assist in evacuating nationals trapped in Lebanon, while Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called for diplomacy and an immediate ceasefire to prevent escalation between Israel and Hezbollah.
Following Israeli airstrikes that marked Lebanon’s deadliest day since the end of its civil war in 1990, Starmer urged British citizens to leave while commercial flights are still available.
“It’s very important that they hear my message, which is to leave and to leave immediately,” he told reporters.
The government announced late Tuesday that 700 troops would be deployed to Cyprus, enhancing its presence in the area, which already includes two Royal Navy ships, aircraft, and transport helicopters.
The recent Israeli airstrikes, the most significant in nearly two decades against Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah, have heightened fears that nearly a year of conflict in Gaza may escalate into a broader war, destabilizing the Middle East.
“I’m calling for all parties to step back from the brink, to de-escalate,” Starmer said. “We need a ceasefire so this can be sorted out diplomatically.”
Since Monday morning, Israel’s airstrikes have reportedly killed 569 people, including 50 children, and injured 1,835 in Lebanon, according to Health Minister Firass Abiad. The foreign minister noted that half a million people have been displaced from their homes, with thousands seeking refuge in schools and other buildings.
Israel has indicated a shift in focus from Gaza to its northern frontier, where Hezbollah has been launching rockets into Israel in support of Hamas, which is also backed by Iran.