UK citizens trapped by the fighting in Sudan are to be offered flights out after London announced on Tuesday an evacuation operation from near the capital Khartoum.

The move comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had faced mounting pressure to rescue the roughly 4,000 UK nationals caught up in fighting between two rival generals.

“UK military flights are due to depart from an airfield outside Khartoum, supported by senior diplomats from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office,” the statement said.

Places on the flights would be open to holders of UK passports, the FCDO said.

“We are also working on other potential options for helping British nationals leave Sudan, including from other points of exit,” it added.