The Royal Navy will accompany ships through the Strait of Hormuz amid soaring tensions in the Middle East, following the US’s fatal drone strike on Iran’s top general.
The imminent move to protect UK-flagged ships came on Saturday as the Foreign Office was strengthening its travel warnings across the region as fears of all-out war heightened.
Tehran was vowing harsh retaliation after President Donald Trump authorised the killing of General Qassem Soleimani, and the US dispatched 3,000 extra troops to Kuwait.
Thousands of supporters chanting “Death to America” marched in a funeral procession through Baghdad a day after the head of the elite Quds Force and regional security mastermind was killed in the Iraqi capital along with several others.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace continued to urge “all parties” to de-escalate the situation, but appeared to give some backing to the US for the first time as he announced the shipping plan.
He said he had instructed the HMS Montrose frigate and the HMS Defender destroyer to return to the key oil passage imminently, adding: “The Government will take all necessary steps to protect our ships and citizens at this time.”
https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/local-news/royal-navy-protect-ships-through-3706669
Global News 
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