UK’s elite SAS on ‘standby in Cyprus’ to rescue British hostages held captive in Gaza by Hamas – as Israel launched a devastating overnight assault of strip

• SAS troops expected to launch operation to rescue Britons trapped in Gaza

Elite SAS troops are now on ‘standby’ in Cyprus awaiting to rescue British hostages held captive by Hamas and Britons that are trapped in Gaza.

The top British Army soldiers are reportedly expected to launch an operation to rescue UK nationals who have been stranded in the Middle East war zone.

This comes as Israel launched a devastating assault on the Gaza Strip overnight, with a top political adviser to Benjamin Netanyahu saying Hamas will feel Israel’s ‘wrath’ as warplanes unleashed airstrikes of ‘unprecedented’ intensity.

The Foreign Office have said that around 200 Britons are stuck in Gaza after Israel and Egypt  closed the borders to the strip – with five British people being held captive by Hamas terrorists.

Britain has a strategic presence in the eastern Mediterranean with the military bases set up on the island.

Elite SAS troops are now on ‘standby’ in Cyprus awaiting to rescue British hostages held captive by Hamas and Britons that are trapped in Gaza (file photo)

The top British Army soldiers are reportedly expected to launch an operation to rescue UK nationals who have been stranded in the Middle East war zone (pictured is an SAS trooper)

Smoke rises and billows over Gaza as the Israeli army conducts its most intense air attacks on the strip on Friday night

The SAS sabre squadron, which is based on Cyprus, has now been joined by a crisis command team which comprises 100 soldiers, the Sun reports.

READ MORE: SAS troops ‘are on high alert and ready to help’ Israeli special forces rescue up to 10 British hostages held in Gaza by Hamas

It comes after concern last week from veteran SAS troops that a rescue mission could ‘end in disaster’ due to the ‘confusion’ in Gaza, with UK SAS legend Chris Ryan telling MailOnline: ‘It will be a complete and utter nightmare.’

Ryan warned last week that he ‘wouldn’t be surprised’ if British special forces were preparing for the daring rescue operation.

He claimed the crack squad of operators could launch by helicopter from the UK’s military base in nearby Cyprus or from one of two British Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) ships stationed in the Mediterranean.

But the survivor of the Gulf War’s infamous Bravo Two Zero mission told MailOnline any such rescue operation would be fraught with danger.

‘Hostage rescue is something the SAS is probably the best in the world at but this situation in Gaza is unique, in terms of trying to locate the hostages and find safe passage out,’ he added.

‘There’s a lot of confusion with what’s going on over there right now. Finding the right stronghold where hostages are being held will be tough – then you have to safely move to that location, find the hostage, then leave.

‘From a planning perspective, it will a complete and utter nightmare. It could end in disaster. ‘

The SAS team’s main objective will be to rescue those in the Gaza Strip, but officials are reportedly concerned that the violence could spread, leaving more Britons trapped in the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt and in Lebanon.

Alongside the SAS in Cyprus in the Special Forces Support Group who have a fleet of modified helicopters with them.

Israeli army positions close to the Gaza border on Thursday October 26 in Southern Israel

Smoke rises after Israeli airstrikes as Israeli attacks continue in Rafah, Gaza

A source told the Sun that they would ‘expect’ the UK to use its permanent bases in Cyprus when there is a crisis of this nature in the region.

UK defence and Border Force staff has also been sent to Egypt amid the hope that the nation may reduce border controls at Gaza’s Rafah crossing.

The MoD ‘refused’ to comment on the details of Special Forces operations when approached by the Sun.

Since 2011, the UK special forces have reportedly been used on just three hostage rescue missions – in Kenya, Nigeria and Yemen.

The SAS is reportedly working with Israel’s elite Sayeret Matkal force and the US Delta Force to collect intelligence that could lead to hostage rescue attempts. 

Hostages have been held as human shields in tunnels, apartments buildings and military bases to deter Israeli attacks while a disturbing video appeared to show Hamas holding up kids and toddlers following their deadly attack.

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