Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has urged British nationals in Lebanon to leave immediately due to escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. Approximately 700 UK troops have been deployed to Cyprus in preparation for a possible large-scale evacuation. This comes as fears grow of an all-out war in the region following Israel's intensified military offensive against Hezbollah, which has resulted in significant casualties and displacement of people in southern Lebanon. The UK government has described this as a crucial phase in their contingency plans, emphasizing the need for de-escalation and a ceasefire. British warships and Royal Air Force units are on standby to assist in any evacuation efforts, and a major military base in Cyprus will play a pivotal role in the operations.

The situation in the country, where Israeli strikes reportedly killed more than 560 people this week, is described as deteriorating "rapidly, with devastating consequences".