British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday urged British citizens in Lebanon to “leave immediately” as the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah escalates. The UK has also deployed around 700 troops to Cyprus to deal with any emergency that may arise. “The most important message from me to British nationals in Lebanon is to leave immediately. It is important that we’ve been really, really clear: now is the time to leave,” Starmer said. “I think we need to be clear, we need de-escalation, we need a ceasefire, we need to pull back from the brink,” he added. Starmer made the remarks while attending the Labour Party conference in Liverpool before heading to the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has advised against all travel to Lebanon, where thousands of British nationals are believed to be present.

UK Defence Secretary John Healey said, “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.”

“We continue to urge all sides to step back from conflict to prevent further tragic loss of life. Our government is ensuring all preparations are in place to support British nationals should the situation deteriorate. I want to thank the British personnel deployed in the region for their commitment and professionalism,” he added.

The UK already has a significant diplomatic and military presence in the area, including RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus and Royal Navy ships RFA Mounts Bay and HMS Duncan, which are stationed in the eastern Mediterranean. The Royal Air Force (RAF) is also ready to help if needed, with aircraft and helicopters on standby.

The recent escalation has raised fears that the conflict could escalate into a full-fledged war in the Middle East, potentially involving Iran-backed groups from Yemen and Iraq.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned world leaders that Lebanon is “at the brink” and cautioned against allowing it to become “another Gaza”, following Israeli strikes that killed over 550 people and injured over 1,600.

US President Joe Biden has called for de-escalation, urging both sides to refrain from aggression. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has, however, vowed to continue targeting Hezbollah’s military positions in Lebanon.

(With inputs from agencies)