The move comes as the UK government also announces evacuation flights from the Gulf states for up to 130,000 Brits in the region who have registered

Sir Keir Starmer has condemned the Iranian regime and said British planes ‘are in the sky today’ as part of coordinated defensive operations to protect allies

The prime minister had previously refused to give the US permission to use RAF bases in Cyprus but has relented because of the indiscriminate nature of Iran’s retaliation

The US-Iran war is escalating in the Middle East

First government rescue flight from Oman to set off on Wednesday evening with two more ‘in the coming days’