Sixty three Britons were airlifted out of Israel today amid a growing threat of war in the Middle East.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said an RAF flight was en route to Cyprus and more would follow in the coming days amid the exchange of fire between Tel Aviv and Tehran.
He also told the Commons a British national had been injured by Iranian rockets fired on Israel over the last week.
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 onwards journey to the UK this afternoon.
British nationals still in Israel are being urged to register their presence with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Commercial flights are continuing to operate from Egypt and Jordan, and international land border crossings to these countries remain open.
Mr Lammy said: ‘Further flights will follow in the coming days, security allowing. We will prioritise those with greatest need, and contact those allocated a seat directly.’
Earlier, Mr Lammy had urged Iran to take a diplomatic ‘off-ramp’ and engage in talks, as he cautioned Tehran against blockading the Strait of Hormuz or attacking US bases in the Middle East in revenge for Saturday night’s missile attack.
Questions are being asked about whether the shipping channel or oil exports through it could be blocked amid the tensions.
In his statement to the Commons, Mr Lammy repeated his plea to Iran to return to the negotiating table following America’s strikes 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.
‘The alternative is an even more destructive and far-reaching conflict, which could have unpredictable consequences.’
