Keir Starmer repeated his plea for Brits to leave Lebanon ‘immediately’ today as he arrived at the UN in New York.
The PM raised alarm at escalating tensions between Israel and terror group Hezbollah, calling on both sides to cease hostilities.
Sir Keir, who is accompanied on his trip by controversial chief aide Sue Gray, is due to address the UN General Assembly later as well as holding talks with other leaders.
Hezbollah fired a ballistic missile at the Israeli city of Tel Aviv this morning, as Israel carried out strikes in Lebanon – where there is estimated to be up to 10,000 UK citizens. Israel’s military has said it will activate its reserve brigades.
Sir Keir told broadcasters in New York: ‘I am very worried about the escalation.
‘I’m calling for all parties to step back from the brink, to de-escalate. We need a ceasefire so this can be sorted out diplomatically.
Keir Starmer greets the US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield in New York today
Keir Starmer (pictured in New York today) raised alarm at escalating tensions between Israel and terror group Hezbollah, calling on both sides to cease hostilities
Smoke rises over southern Lebanon following an Israeli strike today
Sir Keir, who is accompanied on his trip by controversial chief aide Sue Gray (pictured), is due to address the UN General Assembly later as well as holding talks with other leaders
‘But I have a very important message for British nationals in Lebanon, which is the time to leave is now.
‘The contingency plans are being ramped up, but don’t wait for those. There are still commercial flights.
‘It’s very important that they hear my message, which is to leave and to leave immediately.’
Troops have already been sent to Cyprus as the British Government is drawing up plans to evacuate British citizens from Lebanon amid the fighting.
The surface-to-surface missile fired from Lebanon on Wednesday set off air raid sirens in Tel Aviv and across central Israel.
There have been no reports of casualties or damage, according to the Associated Press.
The Israeli army said it struck the site in southern Lebanon from which the projectile was launched.
Hezbollah said it fired a Qader 1 ballistic missile targeting the headquarters of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, which it blames for a recent string of targeted killings of its top commanders and for an attack last week in which bombs hidden in pagers and walkie-talkies killed dozens of people and wounded thousands, including many Hezbollah members.
The Israeli military said it was the first time a projectile fired from Lebanon had reached central Israel.
The aftermath of an Israeli strike in Lebanon earlier today