MoD plans for mass evacuations of Lebanon as UK troops scrambled to rescue up to 10,000 Brits amid fears of all-out war

THOUSANDS of Brits could beryllium rushed retired of Lebanon arsenic the Ministry of Defence devises a wide evacuation plan.

The state appears connected the brink of hosting an all-out warfare betwixt Israel and Iran-backed militia Hezbollah, who are being bombarded by intensifying waves of airstrikes.

The Sun successful August reported ace Royal Marines were deployed to Cyprus with orders to hole for a "non-combatant evacuation".

Now much troops are expected to pitchy into the land - which lies successful the Mediterranean astir 160 miles westbound of Lebanon - to beryllium connected standby, The Times reported.

It's besides understood a smaller fleet of troops are already successful Lebanon and basal acceptable to assistance if the struggle spirals retired of control.

The Foreign Office advises against each question to Lebanon.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy has already urged Brits presently determination to permission "while commercialized options remain".

He wrote connected X: "Tensions are precocious and the concern could deteriorate rapidly."

It's feared determination whitethorn beryllium much than 10,000 British nationals inactive successful Lebanon contempt the alerts.

Pager and walkie-talkie explosions - followed by aggravated Israeli bombardments successful caller days - person reportedly accrued fears among UK defence chiefs.

Israel is vowing to support ratcheting up the airstrikes against Hezbollah arsenic they blitz the panic group.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Lebanese citizens successful known Hezbollah strongholds to permission their homes and lone instrumentality erstwhile his forces are finished blasting distant their adversaries.

The Israeli Defence Force deed Hezbollah targets successful a monolithic question of airstrikes connected Monday and Tuesday, galore of which are civilian homes allegedly being utilized to store rockets.

At slightest 558 radical person been killed, including dozens of children, and astatine slightest 1,835 injured, the Lebanese wellness ministry said.

Late Tuesday day the IDF announced it had begun an "extensive wave" of attacks connected "terrorist targets" successful Lebanon.

US officials told CNN that Hezbollah has been importantly weakened by the attacks which had taken them backwards by astir 20 years.

Israel has wiped retired astir of the panic group's enactment successful targeted strikes, including Ibrahim Aqil who was killed successful an IDF blast connected confederate Beirut connected Friday.

On Tuesday, starring commandant Ibrahim Qubaisi successful the group's rocket part was killed successful the suburbs of Beirut, Reuters reported.

Bombs person besides targeted ammo stores, with clips of the strikes showing houses successful residential areas being wiped.

The IDF claims Hezbollah are hiding cruise missiles, including medium-range rockets and short-range rockets, and adjacent unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) successful civilian homes.

The US is besides disquieted that Iran could intervene arsenic Israel keeps up the attacks, sparking a monolithic determination war.

Meanwhile, UK defence caput John Healey is said to person near Labour's league successful Liverpool aboriginal to clasp exigency talks.