UK preparing aircraft carrier for possible Middle East deployment | Military
Britain is preparing an aircraft carrier ahead of a possible deployment to the Middle East, the Ministry of Defense said.
Royal Navy workers in Portsmouth are preparing the navy’s flagship, HMS Prince of Wales; This means it can be deployed more quickly if it is decided to mobilize to the region.
The Guardian was told no decision had been made regarding the deployment of the aircraft carrier. A Ministry of Defense spokesman said HMS Prince of Wales could also undertake other planned missions.
The crew was warned of a potential deployment to the Middle East, according to Sky News, which also reported that the ship’s notice to depart had been shortened from 10 days to five days. The warship will need to be accompanied by other ships and a submarine.
If deployed, the aircraft carrier will join HMS Dragon, which is also sent to the region. Clashes broke out in the region following US-Israeli airstrikes that killed Iran’s religious leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior leaders.
The Ministry of Defense said RAF Typhoon and F-35 jets continued to conduct air operations over Jordan, Qatar and Cyprus to “defend British interests”. The US has also begun using British bases for “special defense operations”, with the arrival of a B-1 Lancer at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Friday evening. Three more followed on Saturday morning.
A Ministry of Defense spokesman said: “We have been strengthening the UK’s military presence in the Middle East since January and have already deployed capabilities including Typhoons, F-35 jets, air defense systems and an extra 400 personnel to Cyprus to protect the British people and our allies in the region.
“Since the attacks began, British jets have been shooting down drones in the sky and we have deployed additional assets into the region to further strengthen our air defences, including more Typhoons and Wildcat helicopters with drone-destroying missiles.
“HMS Prince of Wales has always maintained a very high level of readiness and we are increasing the carrier’s readiness, thereby reducing the time required to sail for any deployment.”
Keir Starmer has been criticized by Conservatives for being slow to send warships and planes to the Middle East after the US and Israel. On Thursday, the prime minister announced that Britain would send more fighter jets to the Middle East.
Two more Wildcat helicopters, which can also shoot down drones, arrived in Cyprus on Friday. The Ministry of Defense said on Saturday that a Merlin helicopter had been sent to the area to assist with surveillance.
Airstrikes by the US and Israel, followed by retaliatory missiles and drone strikes by Iran, led to the evacuation of British citizens back to the UK.
Meanwhile, the second government-chartered flight landed at Gatwick at 12.30pm on Saturday. More than 6,500 Britons have been brought back from the United Arab Emirates since the conflict began.
The Foreign Office said more than 160,000 British citizens had registered their presence in the Middle East with the department.
