LONDON - Britain is to send two Royal Navy warships to the Middle East as part of the contingency planning for a possible evacuation of its nationals from Lebanon, the Ministry of Defence in London said on Saturday. The vessels -- the fleet’s flagship aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious and HMS Bulwark -- will be sent to the region but had been given “no specific tasking”, a spokeswoman said. “As you would expect we are monitoring the situation closely and are engaging in prudent contingency planning. As part of this HMS Illustrious and HMS Bulwark will shortly head towards the region,” she added.
| The carrier has to have some escorts but these aren't mentioned. I'd expect a couple of frigates and a nuclear attack sub at the minimum. |
Sky News television reported that the Illustrious was currently berthed in Gibraltar, Britain’s overseas territory on the tip of southern Spain, and had been due to return to Portsmouth, on England’s south coast. The vessel, or “Lusty” as she is affectionately known by her crew, has recently been on patrol in the Mediterranean. HMS Bulwark is an amphibious assault ship that has recently been on duties in the northern Gulf.
Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is currently advising its nationals against all travel to Lebanon. The country has an estimated 10,000 citizens in Lebanon. They have been warned by the FCO and officials on the ground to be prepared to depart “at short notice”. |