British troops deployed to Cyprus amid escalating Middle East crisis
In response to increasing tensions in the Middle East, British authorities have decided to deploy approximately 700 soldiers to Cyprus. They are to assist with the potential evacuation of British nationals from Lebanon.
On Tuesday, the British government called on British citizens to leave Lebanon immediately. This decision is due to the ongoing intensification of the conflict between Israel and the Shiite Hezbollah, which Iran supports.
In response to the growing threat, British authorities also announced the deployment of approximately 700 soldiers to Cyprus "within the next few hours" to support potential evacuation actions.
Events in the past hours and days have demonstrated how volatile this situation is, which is why our message is clear, British nationals should leave now - said a statement from Defence Minister John Healey.
Massive tensions in the Middle East
According to data provided by Lebanese authorities, the intensification of Israeli attacks in recent days has led to the deaths of 569 people, including 50 children. Additionally, 1,835 people have been injured. This follows a recent series of explosions of pagers belonging to members of a terrorist organization.
The conflict has prompted thousands of residents of southern Lebanon to migrate to the north of the country in search of safe shelter. The Israeli offensive against Palestinian Hamas is also ongoing.
More experts are expressing concerns that the current situation could evolve into a broader regional conflict. They also emphasize that the initiation of actions in the Middle East could significantly weaken support for Ukraine, which would be a significant problem for Central Europe.
