Royal Marines are ready to lead a Dunkirk-style evacuation of thousands of British nationals from the Middle East after Iran launched a massive drone and missile attack on Israel last night.
Commandos have already conducted reconnaissance along the Lebanese coastline ahead of a possible maritime rescue mission.
The daring mission – reminiscent of the massive effort to evacuate 338,000 British troops stranded in France by the Germans during the opening salvo of the Second World War in 1940 – was exclusively revealed by the Mail on Friday.
It came a day before Tehran launched a major aerial bombardment on Saturday evening, in retaliation for the deadly explosion of a consul at an Iranian embassy in Syria, which killed thirteen people.
Speaking exclusively to the Mail earlier this week, Defense Secretary Grant Shapps confirmed he “stands ready” to help any Britons trapped in the region.
Defense Secretary Grant Shapps visits Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, to tour the base and meet troops
One video shared with MailOnline showed the Iron Dome intercepting a missile
About a hundred drones and missiles were fired at Israel
The Foreign Office has already advised all British citizens to leave Lebanon.
US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said a “serious threat” of attack remained, while it was reported that Iran had sent a message to Washington warning them of the involvement of US forces in the region.
The evacuation plans, codenamed Operation Meteoric, will be led by Britain’s Green Berets and supported by the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.
The Mail has learned that a group of Marines from 30 Commando arrived in the region in recent days.
Operation Meteoric has been compared to Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of Allied soldiers from Dunkirk in 1940 when they were surrounded by German forces.
Israel and its allies continue to brace for a full-scale Iranian response to the attack on the Syrian consulate earlier this month, which left 13 dead, including a senior Iranian commander.
Although Israel has not claimed responsibility for the blast, it is widely believed to be behind it.
Iran’s response could also involve the heavily armed military group Hezbollah, based in Lebanon.
Tonight, intelligence reports suggested the retaliation could include more than 100 drones, dozens of cruise missiles and ballistic missiles.
Such a scenario would likely lead to civilian ‘air bridges’ being closed – hence the need for a maritime solution.
Defense Secretary Grant Shapps confirmed he ‘stands ready’ to help any Britons stuck in the region
Commandos have already conducted reconnaissance along the Lebanese coastline ahead of a possible maritime rescue mission
The Royal Navy’s new mine hunting ‘mothership’, RFA Stirling Castle, recently arrived at its new home on the Clyde
The Mail has learned how the preparatory work behind Operation Meteoric was carried out by the Royal Marines’ Surveillance and Reconnaissance Squadron (SRS).
They studied parts of the Lebanese coastline and selected possible locations for such a rescue mission.
Stranded civilians would be transported in assault craft from the beaches to ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) in the eastern Mediterranean.
While it is clear that Iran is keen to avoid direct involvement with British forces, RAF Typhoon jets based in Cyprus could provide ‘top cover’.
Earlier this week, Mr Shapps told the Mail: ‘British nationals in the region will be concerned about what Iran is threatening to do. That’s why we are ready to help them.
“There are plans, but they cannot be discussed for security reasons.”
Around 100 drones were reportedly launched from Iran last night – with dramatic footage showing the moment some were shot down over the city of Jerusalem.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said via state media: “The Revolutionary Guards’ aerospace unit has attacked targets in Israel with dozens of drones and missiles in response to the crimes of the Zionist regime, including the attack on the consulate area of the Iranian embassy in Damascus and the torture of our commanders and military advisors in Syria.’
Missiles entered Israeli airspace just before midnight local time, with images from international media showing rockets being intercepted by the Iron Dome system over Jerusalem, eastern Israel.
Explosions were also heard in Jericho in the occupied West Bank, while the Israeli army said it had sounded sirens in the southern Negev region.
Iranian media reported that Tehran also launched its first round of ballistic missiles towards Israel, which have an even shorter flight time than the cruise missiles. A third wave of drones has now been launched at Israel.
The Yemen-based Houthis also claim to have fired “dozens” of rockets at an IDF base in northeastern Israel. It is currently unknown whether the Houthi attacks are related to Iran’s salvo.
Britain, one of Israel’s closest allies, and other countries have reportedly begun supporting Israel by sending fighter jets to shoot down the drones and missiles. US officials added that their military also intercepted drones and missiles heading towards Israel.