UK preparing aircraft carrier for possible Middle East deployment

UK preparing aircraft carrier for possible Middle East deployment Royal Navy readying HMS Prince of Wales so it can be quickly deployed if decision made to mobilise it to region Middle East crisis live: latest news updates The UK is preparing an aircraft carrier before a possible deployment to the Middle East, the Ministry of Defence has said. Royal Navy workers in Portsmouth are readying HMS Prince of Wales, the navy’s flagship, meaning it could be deployed more quickly if a decision is made to mobilise it to the region. No decisions have been taken to deploy the aircraft carrier, the Guardian has been told. An MoD spokesperson said HMS Prince of Wales could also undertake other planned missions. Crews have been alerted of a potential deployment to the Middle East, according to Sky News, who also reported that the vessel’s notice to move has been shortened from 10 days to five. The warship would need to be escorted by other vessels and a submarine. If deployed, the aircraft carrier would join HMS Dragon, which is also being sent to the region. Conflict has broken out in the region after US-Israeli airstrikes, which killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with other senior leaders. The MoD said RAF Typhoon and F-35 jets had continued to fly air operations over Jordan, Qatar and Cyprus to “defend British interests”. The US has also started using British bases for “specific defensive operations”, with a B-1 Lancer arriving at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Friday evening. Three more followed on Saturday morning. An MoD spokesperson said: “We have been bolstering our UK military presence in the Middle East since January, and we have already deployed capabilities to protect British people and our allies in the region, including Typhoons, F-35 jets, air defence systems and an extra 400 personnel into Cyprus. “Since the strikes began, we’ve had British jets in the sky shooting down drones and have sent additional assets to the region to further rei...