Middle East solution is 'absolutely critical'

Service personnel and others from the UK are facing "acute security threats" amid the conflict in the Middle East, John Swinney has said as he reiterated calls for a diplomatic solution.

- LUCINDA CAMERON AND NICK FORBES, PA SCOTLAND

Military preparations HMS Dragon is being deployed to Cyprus to help defend RAF Akrotiri from attacks linked to the Iranian conflict. Pic: Royal Navy Pictures

(Royal Navy Pictures)

Scotland's First Minister said the US-Israeli attack on Iran at the weekend is "not compatible with an international rules-based system" and that the whole world is facing a "very grave situation" as a result.

The US and Israel have continued to attack Iran since killing its supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday. Tehran and its allies have retaliated against Israel, neighbouring Gulf states and oil and gas production facilities.

HMS Dragon, one of the Royal Navy's six Type 45 air defence destroyers, is being readied to depart for the Mediterranean to defend Cyprus after RAF Akrotiri was hit by a drone.