Britain sends spy planes, ships to Mediterranean amid Israel-Hamas war

LONDON — Military vessels and surveillance aircraft are among the assets Britain is deploying to the Eastern Mediterranean in response to the attack on Israel by Hamas, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced.

Backed by a barrage of rockets, Hamas militants stormed from the blockaded Gaza Strip into nearby Israeli towns, killing dozens and abducting others in an unprecedented surprise attack during a major Jewish holiday Saturday. In response, the Israeli government declared war on Hamas and vowed to inflict an “unprecedented price.”

Royal Air Force P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, other unspecified surveillance assets, two Royal Fleet Auxiliary support ships, three Merlin helicopters and a company of Royal Marines are part of the deployment package meant to support Israel, prevent escalation and aid in humanitarian efforts, the British government said. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary is the support arm of the Royal Navy.

Maritime patrol and surveillance aircraft operations will start as early as Oct. 13 to track threats to regional security, such as the transfer of weapons to terrorist groups, the government added.

A Royal Navy task force will also head to the region next week as a contingency measure to support humanitarian efforts, government noted. The task force will include the landing ship dock RFA Lyme Bay the support and hospital vessel RFA Argus.

HMS Duncan, a Type 45 anti-air destroyer, is already in the Mediterranean Sea as part of a NATO force, but its unclear whether the ship will join the Royal Navy task group.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said the military deployment represents an unequivocal statement of support for Israel.

“The Royal Navy Task Group, RAF operations and our wider military support will be an undeniable display of the UK’s resolve to ensure Hamas’s terrorist campaign fails, whilst reminding those who seek to inflame tensions that the forces of freedom stand with the Israeli people,” Shapps said in a statement.

The package will add to an already substantial British presence in the Eastern Mediterranean region, which includes two military bases on Cyprus. The island hosts the largest Royal Air Force base outside the U.K. and houses significant signals- and intelligence-gathering assets.

Hamas’ assault last Saturday killed more than 1,300 people in Israel, including 247 soldiers. Israel says roughly 1,500 Hamas militants were killed inside Israel. The Gaza Health Ministry on Oct. 13 said that 1,799 people have been killed in the territory, including more than 580 under the age of 18 and 351 women.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Andrew Chuter is the United Kingdom correspondent for Defense News.

伦敦——英国首相里希·苏纳克宣布，为应对哈马斯对以色列的袭击，英国正在向东地中海部署包括军舰和侦察机在内的多种军事力量。

在火箭弹的支援下，哈马斯武装分子从被封锁的加沙地带突袭到附近的以色列城镇，在周六这个重要的犹太节日期间发动了前所未有的突袭，造成数十人死亡，多人被绑架。作为回应，以色列政府向哈马斯宣战，并誓言要让哈马斯付出“前所未有的代价”。

英国政府表示，此次部署计划包括皇家空军P-8海上巡逻机、其他未指明的监视设备、两艘皇家舰队辅助舰艇、三架梅林直升机以及一个皇家海军陆战队连，旨在支持以色列、防止局势升级并协助人道主义援助。皇家舰队辅助舰是英国皇家海军的支援力量。

政府补充说，海上巡逻和监视飞机行动最早将于10月13日开始，以追踪对地区安全的威胁，例如向恐怖组织转移武器。

英国政府指出，作为一项应急措施，皇家海军一支特遣部队将于下周前往该地区，支援人道主义救援工作。该特遣部队包括船坞登陆舰“莱姆湾”号（RFA Lyme Bay）和支援医院舰“阿格斯”号（RFA Argus）。

45 型防空驱逐舰“邓肯”号目前已在地中海，隶属于北约部队，但尚不清楚该舰是否会加入皇家海军特遣舰队。

国防大臣格兰特·沙普斯表示，此次军事部署是对以色列的明确支持。

沙普斯在一份声明中表示：“皇家海军特遣部队、皇家空军的行动以及我们更广泛的军事支持，将无可辩驳地展现英国确保哈马斯恐怖主义活动失败的决心，同时提醒那些试图煽动紧张局势的人，自由的力量与以色列人民站在一起。”

该方案将进一步增强英国在东地中海地区已有的强大存在，其中包括在塞浦路斯的两个军事基地。塞浦路斯拥有英国境外最大的皇家空军基地，并部署了重要的信号和情报收集设施。

哈马斯上周六的袭击造成以色列境内1300多人死亡，其中包括247名士兵。以色列方面称，约有1500名哈马斯武装分子在以色列境内被打死。加沙卫生部10月13日表示，该地区已有1799人丧生，其中包括580多名18岁以下青少年和351名妇女。

美联社对本报道亦有贡献。

Andrew Chuter 是《防务新闻》的英国记者。