Escape from Middle East warzone descends into chaos: Brits are left stranded as first government flight is grounded amid mass exodus of Westerners
British nationals have endured another chaotic night in the Middle East after the first UK government chartered flight from Oman failed to take off.Terrified passengers were said to be smashing on windows and having panic attacks as they sat helplessly on the plane on the tarmac in Muscat. One described the ordeal as a 'total s***show'.It had been scheduled to depart from the Omani capital at 11pm GST on Wednesday, but could not 'due to the pilot's hours clocking up'. The Foreign Office this morning told the Daily Mail the flight failed to take off due to 'technical issues' but insisted it would take off later today.Meanwhile Israel and Iran have traded fresh attacks as the conflict enters its sixth day.
Follow the latest updates on the US-Iran war belowWhat has been happening overnight The Israeli military said Iran fired a number of missiles toward Israel in the early hours of Thursday, though there were no immediate reports of casualties.Iran has also launched a fresh wave of attacks against Israel and US targets, with a US oil tanker reportedly on fire in the Gulf.Two Israeli strikes near Lebanon’s capital have left three people dead and six injured. Lebanese media reported the attacks hit a road leading to Beirut-Rafik Hariri International Airport, citing the country’s health ministry.The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) warned that the escalating conflict is already driving large-scale displacement. The agency said roughly 100,000 people fled Tehran within the first two days after the US-Israeli attack. In Lebanon, it estimates around 58,000 people are staying in collective shelters, although Lebanese officials say the figure exceeds 80,000.The US military has released the name of a fifth soldier killed in an Iranian drone strike in Kuwait during the early days of the war, and has also identified who is believed to be a sixth service member killed in the same attack.A UK government-chartered flight meant to bring British nationals back from Oman did not depart on Wednesday evening as scheduled due to a technical fault. Qatar Airways said it plans to run additional relief flights from the Middle East to several European destinations on Thursday.Authorities in Doha have started evacuating residents living close to the US Embassy as a precaution, according to Qatar’s interior ministry. A tanker sailing off the coast of Kuwait has been rocked by a “large explosion”, causing an oil spill, according to Britain’s maritime monitoring body, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations.First flights carrying European nationals out of the Middle East arrive Breaking:US tanker 'on fire' as Iran launches strikesChartered flight for Brits to leave Oman did not take off
Survivors of US submarine strike that killed at least 87 seen in Sri Lankan hospitalBreaking:Azerbaijan confirms strikes hit airport and nearby schoolWe strongly condemn these drone attacks carried out from the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which resulted in damage to the airport building and injuries to two civilians.Watch: I've been playing my tiniest violin for Dubai influencers, says Sarah Vine Brits have panic attacks after flight delayed in Oman People were having panic attacks and everyone was highly stressed. There seemed to be no one from the embassy visible present to take control of the situation.French foreign minister speaks to Iranian counterpart to urge for de-escalationUK defence secretary lands in CyprusAzerbaijan airport hit by strikes 'coming from Iran'Pictured: Smoke rising from Tehran in latest Israeli air strikes
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Escape from Middle East warzone descends into chaos: Brits are left stranded as first government flight is grounded amid mass exodus of Westerners
