ALBAWABA - The British Ministry of Defense announced that it will be deploying 700 troops to Cyprus to prepare for the evacuation of British nationals from Lebanon, while the US stated that it will send additional forces to the Middle East amid escalation.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged British nationals in Lebanon to leave following intensified tit-for-tat attacks between Israel and Hezbollah. Starmer said "we are ramping up the contingency plans, I think you'd expect that in light of the escalation”, and added that UK citizens should "leave immediately" BBC reported.
The United States stated Monday that it is deploying a "small number" of extra soldiers to the Middle East, as Israel sharply intensified bombings in Lebanon, sparking massive Hezbollah retaliation.
The US has around 40,000 soldiers stationed in the region and Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder did not say how many more personnel would be sent.
Israeli jets blasted Lebanon throughout the day on Monday, attacking sites in the south and north that Israel claims are Hezbollah.
"In light of increased tension in the Middle East and out of an abundance of caution, we are sending a small number of additional US military personnel forward to augment our forces that are already in the region," Maj. Gen. Ryder told reporters. "I’m not going to comment on or provide specifics" he added.
Lebanese authorities said at least 558 people, including dozens of children, had been killed and 1,835 others were injured in the attacks. Thousands of people have been forced to flee.
Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari stated that the army may strike multiple Lebanese communities up to 80 kilometers (50 miles) from the border.
Hezbollah separately stated that its fighters fired hundreds of missiles against Israel's Rafael Electronics Company, located north of Haifa, as well as the Northern Corps' reserve headquarters and the Galilee Formation's supply facility in the Ami'ad camp.
