Hundreds of British elite forces are training in Lebanon to rescue British nationals trapped in the war-torn Middle East, according to the British newspaper "Daily Mail." The newspaper expects the newly formed British Army Rangers unit, created only two years ago, to carry out an airlift operation alongside the Royal Air Force to rescue Britons stranded in Gaza since Israel declared war on Hamas. The details of the plans remain confidential to ensure an element of surprise, as there is a risk that Britons in countries like Lebanon might be taken hostage by Hezbollah.
Chief of the General Staff, General Patrick Sanders, confirmed that British forces were "preparing for non-combat extraction operations in parts of the region, we are getting ready for that." Patrick emphasized that it is unlikely that "British forces will be drawn into direct combat or conflict and that military planners will seek to avoid that." He added before the Defense Committee in the House of Commons that the presence of British forces near Israel is also aimed at "detering" Iran from entering the conflict directly.
Rangers are typically recruited for covert roles in unstable regions around the world. Following Hamas's attack on October 7, Israel and Hezbollah exchanged shelling, resulting in casualties on both sides amid fears of a full-blown front and an expansion of the conflict from Gaza to Lebanon.
