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UK preparing support ship to deploy to eastern Mediterranean
RFA Lyme Bay, equipped for evacuations and medical aid, joins HMS Dragon amid rising Middle East tensions with over 37,000 UK citizens evacuated, Defence Secretary said.
- On Monday, Defence Secretary John Healey said RFA Lyme Bay is alongside in Gibraltar on heightened readiness and could sail from Portsmouth "in the next couple of days" to assist maritime tasks in the eastern Mediterranean.
- Healey told MPs that more than 170,000 registered in the region, prompting evacuation flights and withdrawals of dependants amid ongoing Iranian strikes at Israel and Gulf states.
- Lyme Bay is a Bay-class landing ship equipped with a Role 2 medical facility including '12 beds', and below the vehicle deck it can accommodate around 350 troops or about 500 for evacuations.
- Military sources note Lyme Bay is prepared for potential deployment, with HMS Dragon due to sail Wednesday and HMS Prince of Wales on heightened readiness to protect Cyprus and RAF bases.
- After decommissioning of RFA Argus and the LPDs, Lyme Bay is the only UK naval vessel in the Mediterranean while France has deployed about 10 ships, increasing political pressure for a visible British presence.
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Irish NewsReposted by 
perspectivemedia.com
perspectivemedia.comSecond British ship being prepared to respond to Middle East crisis
RFA Lyme Bay could be sent to the eastern Mediterranean if the crisis continues.
·Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources12
Leaning Left4Leaning Right1Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Left
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left
50% Left
L 50%
C 38%
12%
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