The first flight to evacuate British citizens from Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories has taken off, the foreign secretary has said.
David Lammy told the Commons that an RAF A400 took 63 UK nationals and dependants to Cyprus, as the conflict in the Middle East develops.
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Sky News understands that the UK’s chief rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, was aboard the flight as he had been in Israel.
Mr Lammy said the group will be brought home from Cyprus “this evening” and more flights will follow.
He said those with greatest need will be prioritised and urged all British nationals still in Israel and the occupied territories to register their presence with the UK foreign office so they receive updates.
Israel began strikes against Iran earlier this month, claiming Tehran was on the verge of developing nuclear weapons, and has struck nuclear sites, military bases and civilian areas.
Iran insists its nuclear programme is only for peaceful purposes. It has retaliated with missile and drone strikes on Israel.
The UK had not begun evacuating civilians up to this point, saying it had to wait for airspace to open up before planes could be sent.
Mr Lammy confirmed that one British national in Israel had been injured during Iranian missile attacks and had been offered consular support.
He said it was more difficult to support British nationals in Iran as airspace is closed and there is a “near total internet shutdown”.
The statement follows America’s strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities over the weekend.
Mr Lammy said it was not yet clear how far the attack had set back Iran’s nuclear ambitions but the need for a diplomatic solution remained.
“Air strikes cannot destroy the knowledge Iran has acquired over several decades, nor any regime ambition to deploy that knowledge…
