It comes as the Prime Minister assured the nation ‘we can keep our people safe’
The Foreign Office (FCDO) has issued an important update for British citizens struggling to return home from destinations across the Middle East because of the continuing conflict between the US, Israel and Iran.
In a social media post published shortly after 2pm on Thursday (March 5), the FCDO announced that the first government charter flight had taken off from Oman bringing British nationals back home. The flight contained a number of vulnerable people, who were prioritised as part of the repatriation mission.
The FCDO also revealed that further flights are planned in the coming days and that British citizens in Oman will be contacted as they become available.
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On Wednesday, over 4,000 people landed back in the UK on flights from the Middle East. Many of these people were due to return last weekend, but the breakout of war left them stuck in dangerous locations.
Any British nationals still seeking a way home from the affected countries have been told to register their presence so they can receive important information on the situation. This applies to anyone in Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Palestine, Qatar and United Arab Emirates.
FCDO Rapid Deployment Teams are in Oman and Saudi Arabia to assist British nationals on the ground. Thousands are expected to be making their way to the city on the southeastern Arabian Peninsula in a desperate bid to get a flight back to the UK.
Speaking from Downing Street on Thursday afternoon, Sir Keir Starmer said: “I know that people are worried sick about their family and friends who are caught up in this, about the impact on our lives and our economy, and about the potential for even greater escalation.
“They can hardly believe that, yet again, we are seeing missiles and drones falling and civilians in the firing line across the region.”
He continued: “So, I want to reassure the British public about the action that we are taking while the region has been plunged into chaos. My focus is providing calm, level-headed leadership in the national interest.
“That means deploying our military and diplomatic strength to protect our people, and it means having the strength to stand firm by our values and our principles, no matter the pressure to do otherwise.”