British forces evacuated in Middle East Trump prepares strike on Iran 'in next 24 hours'

British forces evacuated in Middle East Trump prepares strike on Iran 'in next 24 hours' Trump is expected to strike Iran, which has witnessed wide-scale protests in recent days and multiple fatalities. British forces have reportedly been evacuated in the Middle East as the world braces for US strikes on Iran . Open source intelligence monitor OSINTdefender posted tracking data on X, commenting: "An Airbus KC3 Voyager with the British Royal Air Force that arrived in the Middle East on Tuesday, flew this morning from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, and is now returning to RAF Akrotiri, likely evacuating personnel prior to upcoming strikes against Iran." A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: "We do not comment on details of basing and deployments due to operational security. The UK always puts precautionary measures in place to ensure the security and safety of our personnel, including where necessary withdrawing personnel." An Airbus KC3 Voyager with the British Royal Air Force that arrived in the Middle East on Tuesday, flew this morning from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, and is now returning to RAF Akrotiri, likely evacuating personnel prior to upcoming strikes against... - OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) pic.twitter.com/miYj6LcwiD January 14, 2026 The evacuation occurs against the backdrop of long-standing UK military involvement in the Middle East, including sustained operations against Islamic State (via Operation Shader) from bases like Al Udeid in Qatar and RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, as well as recent joint strikes with allies such as France against ISIL targets in Syria as late as January 3, 2026. Tensions have surged following Iran's threats against US interests, including reported vows to target President Trump, combined with ongoing regional instability involving Iran-backed groups. This precautionary withdrawal of British personnel aligns with similar US-led posture adjustments at the same Qatari base and echoes previous UK contingency measures in the region during crises, such as deployments and extractions amid Israel -Iran escalations in 2024-2025, underscoring Britain's commitment to force protection while maintaining a reduced but active footprint to support coalition security efforts. The US State Department said Wednesday it will suspend the processing of immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Russia and Somalia, whose nationals the Trump administration has deemed likely to require public assistance while living in the United States. The State Department, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, said it had instructed consular officers to halt immigrant visa applications from the countries affected in accordance with a broader order issued in November that tightened rules around potential immigrants who might become “public charges” in the US. The suspension, which will begin January 21, will not apply to applicants seeking non-immigrant visas, or temporary tourist or business visas, who make up the vast majority of visa seekers. Demand for non-immigrant visas is expected to rise dramatically in the coming months and years due to the upcoming 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics both of which the US will...

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