On Thursday 12th October, 2023 the UK Ministry of Defense announced that the Primary Casualty Receiving Ship RFA ARGUS A 135 and the Bay Class Landing Ship RFA LYME BAY L 3007 both being from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary have been ordered to the Eastern Mediterranean and will most likely Support any kind of Evacuation Operation of the over 100,000 U.K. Nationals in Israel, Gaza, and Lebanon in case of Airport Closures.
Following a 4 day transit from Devonport, RFA ARGUS A 135 arrived at HMNB Gibraltar berthing port side alongside at South Mole with 2 Merlin HC4’s Helicopters (ZJ124/H and ZJ136/U) on her deck
RFA ARGUS A 135 at Malta during her maiden call back yo November, 2022.
Meanwhile RFA LYME BAY L 3007 entered HM Naval Base (HMNB) Gibraltar this morning Friday 13th October ahead of RFA ARGUS berthing starboard side alongside with no assets visible on deck mobilizing for deployment to the Eastern Mediterranean.
RFA LYME BAY L 3007 off Valletta, Malta back to March, 2009.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the deployment of the British armed forces would ‘support efforts to ensure regional stability and prevent further escalation’ in the bitter conflict. It comes after the US sent her warships – including the world’s largest aircraft carrier – into Israeli waters following Saturday’s bloody assault by Hamas terrorists, which has so far seen over 1,200 Israelis killed.
Sadiq Khan, the Labour mayor of London, has written to Foreign Secretary James Cleverly pushing for ‘urgent action’ to deliver humanitarian access to Gaza following similar calls by the United Nations and the World Health Organisation.
Labour’s shadow foreign secretary David Lammy also urged ‘for food, water, medicines and electricity’ supplies to be made available.
