ESCAPE FROM HELL

Lebanon Brits flee as war looms | Keir plea: Pull back from brink

- ASHLEY COWBURN, ANDY LINES and CHRIS HUGHES

BRITS are being evacuated from the Middle East as Keir Starmer urged the region to step back from the abyss after Iran's missiles hit Israel.

The first charter flight of UK nationals fleeing Lebanon left BeirutRafic Hariri airport and landed in Birmingham last night after a stop in Bucharest, Romania.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said more flights are planned for today and over the coming days.

Hundreds of British troops have been deployed to Cyprus in preparation for an emergency evacuation, but there are fears the airport in Beirut may close if fighting intensifies. Defence Secretary John Healey - in Cyprus yesterday being briefed on the plans - said he has "every confidence in our ability to do the job if required".

He added: "But for now our advice to all Brits in Lebanon is 'get out now"."

With the region at risk of all-out war after Tehran's assault on Israel, Mr Starmer said in Brussels: "We need to pull back from the brink."

The PM, who met European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in the city, added last night after a call with G7 allies: "We call on all sides to show restraint.

"We also agreed on the urgency of ceasefires in Lebanon and Gaza." Israel said eight of its troops were killed yesterday in fighting with militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon. Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, said it targeted an Israeli unit with an explosive device near border village Yaroun.