British embassy families EVACUATED from Tel Aviv as Iran’s Supreme Leader threatens ‘irreparable harm’ to America and thousands of Britons remain stranded
Sir Keir Starmer is racing back from the G7 summit in Canada to chair an emergency Cobra meeting within hours as fears mount that America is about to join Israel’s war against Iran.
The Prime Minister will gather Britain’s top security experts at the crisis committee meeting in Downing Street on Wednesday afternoon, amid escalating tensions that threaten to engulf the entire Middle East in all-out war.
The dramatic developments come as British diplomatic families were evacuated from Israel and Iran’s Supreme Leader issued chilling threats of “irreparable harm” to the United States if it enters the conflict militarily.
Embassy Families Flee as Crisis Deepens
In a stark sign of the deteriorating security situation, the Foreign Office confirmed that families of British embassy staff in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem have been “temporarily withdrawn as a precautionary measure.
The evacuation order came as missile exchanges between Israel and Iran intensified, with both nations threatening further devastating strikes against each other.
Thousands of British citizens remain trapped in Israel with no way to escape – Israeli airspace has been shut indefinitely and all flights have been grounded as the nation braces for potential American intervention.
Trump’s 48-Hour Ultimatum Sparks Crisis
The emergency Cobra meeting follows reports from Washington that US officials have given Iran just 24 to 48 hours to surrender before America considers military intervention alongside Israel.
President Trump, who left the G7 summit a day early to monitor the crisis, has been weighing options including joining Israeli strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities, according to White House sources.
In an ominous social media post, Trump revealed: “We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding. We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now … Our patience is wearing thin.”
Iran’s Chilling Warning to America
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei responded with his own threats on Friday afternoon, warning: “The harm the US will suffer will definitely be irreparable if they enter this conflict militarily.
He added ominously: “It was already suspected that the US was involved in the malicious move carried out by the Zionist regime, but considering their recent remarks, this suspicion is growing stronger day by day.”
Starmer’s Dramatic Return
The Prime Minister is cutting short his attendance at the G7 summit in the Canadian Rockies, where world leaders had been struggling to find unity over the escalating crisis.
Just hours earlier, Starmer had expressed confidence that the US would not enter the conflict, telling reporters he had heard “nothing” from President Trump to suggest Washington was poised to get involved.
But Downing Street’s tone shifted dramatically by Wednesday afternoon, with the Prime Minister’s spokesman notably failing to repeat those assurances.
Britain on War Footing
The Cobra meeting – named after the Cabinet Office Briefing Room A where it convenes – will bring together senior ministers, intelligence chiefs, and military commanders to assess Britain’s response to the rapidly deteriorating situation.
Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed earlier this week that British Typhoon fighter jets have already been deployed to the region as part of moves to “reinforce de-escalation” and “may also be used to help support our allies.
The RAF has additional assets in the Middle East as part of ongoing operations in Iraq and Syria, with refueling aircraft and more fighter jets being prepared for deployment.
G7 Leaders Call for De-escalation
Before his early departure, President Trump joined other G7 leaders in signing a statement calling for de-escalation between Israel and Iran.
We urge that the resolution of the Iranian crisis leads to a broader de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including a ceasefire in Gaza,” the leaders declared.
The G7 affirmed Israel’s right to self-defense while labeling Iran as the “principal source of regional instability and terror,” adding that Tehran “can never have a nuclear weapon.
UK’s Delicate Balancing Act
Starmer faces a diplomatic tightrope as he seeks to maintain Britain’s special relationship with the United States while avoiding being dragged into another Middle Eastern conflict.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman insisted: “We are clear that de-escalation is the right outcome for the Middle East, we are conscious, as the PM has said, that this has an impact on the lives of people in the United Kingdom.”
But with American military action appearing increasingly likely, Britain may soon face pressure to support its closest ally in what could become the most dangerous confrontation in the Middle East for decades.
Trade Deal Amid the Chaos
Despite the mounting crisis, Starmer and Trump managed to finalize a UK-US trade agreement during their G7 meetings, making Britain the first country to secure a deal with the United States under the new administration.
The Prime Minister told reporters the agreement was “in the final stages of implementing now,” though he stopped short of confirming it would meet the original two-week deadline.
Thousands of Britons Stranded
With Israeli airspace closed and no commercial flights operating, thousands of British nationals remain trapped in Israel as the security situation deteriorates.
The Foreign Office has advised UK tourists to “stay where they are” but has not announced any evacuation plans for civilians, raising concerns among families desperate to bring their loved ones home.
The Clock Is Ticking
As Starmer prepares to chair the emergency Cobra meeting, the window for diplomatic solutions appears to be rapidly closing.
With Iran given just hours to respond to American demands, Trump considering military options, and both Israel and Iran exchanging increasingly destructive missile strikes, the Middle East stands on the brink of a conflict that could dwarf previous regional wars.
For the British Prime Minister, returning from his first major international summit to face an immediate crisis, the coming hours may prove decisive in determining whether diplomacy can prevail – or whether the world is about to witness a catastrophic escalation that could drag Western powers into another Middle Eastern war.
This is a developing story. Updates to follow as the Cobra meeting convenes.
