UK 'finalising plan' to evacuate nationals from the Middle East

The British government is currently considering an emergency plan to evacuate its citizens from certain countries in the Middle East amid the escalating war between the United States, Israel, and Iran, The New Arab understands

A well-informed source, who requested anonymity, said that a crisis team “is working on this plan now.”

It is understood that the UK crisis team operates through the national emergency committee “COBRA,” of the Cabinet Office. 

COBRA is responsible for coordinating a joint, multi-departmental response to national crises and major, serious incidents, including war zones.

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office had previously warned its citizens against travelling, except when necessary, to several Gulf countries after those countries were targeted by Iran during the U.S.-Israeli offensive against it.

With over 100,000 British nationals already registered with the Foreign Office and an estimated 300,000 in the region, the closing of airspace over the Gulf has left many stranded.

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) had previously warned its citizens against travelling to several Gulf countries, except when necessary.

On Wednesday morning, Britain advised its nationals not to travel to Kuwait unless necessary and instructed those currently in Kuwait on how to leave via Saudi Arabia. 

It is not clear whether the plan would involve using strictly commercial routes or deploying UK naval assets to the region to aid evacuations.

Although the UK government maintains it is not participating in "offensive strikes" against Iran, Prime Minister Starmer has authorised the U.S. to use British bases—including RAF Akrotiri, RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, and the joint UK-US base at Diego Garcia—for "limited and specific" defensive strikes to neutralise Iranian missile launchers.

Following attacks on RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus using suspected Iranian drones, the UK government said it will deploy a Royal Navy warship to the eastern Mediterranean to bolster security. However, the vessel, reportedly the HMS Dragon, may take weeks to arrive.