Carrier Strike Group 25 passes through the Suez Canal, the Royal Navy reveals

Carrier Strike Group 25 has sailed through the Suez Canal as it continues its onward journey to Australia, the Royal Navy has confirmed.

Defence Secretary John Healey revealed that they had "gameplanned situations" in case the carrier strike group had to deal with an attack from the Iranian-backed Houthis, according to the Telegraph.

The UK resumed strikes on Houthi drone facilities ahead of the £3bn aircraft carrier's passage through the canal.

• Tidespring turns: RFA vessel breaks away from CSG25 as it heads towards Suez and Red Sea
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"The Carrier Strike Group is in a high-risk area," Mr Healey said during his visit to MOD Corsham, the UK's military cyber headquarters.

"We know that, they know that, they are fully trained for that, and they are as well prepared and well protected as they can be, physically, militarily, and digitally, and in cyber."

He added that "it will be a really dangerous high-risk passage".

The CSG did not contain RFA Tidespring, as the tanker will travel south around the Cape of Good Hope before rejoining the vessels in the Indian Ocean.

It comes after the personnel enjoyed some rest and recuperation in Souda Bay in Crete following Exercise Med Strike.

The CSG partnered with an Italian carrier strike group, led by flagship ITS Cavour, to take part in Exercise Med Strike.

The exercise involved 21 warships, three submarines, 41 fast jets, 19 helicopters, 10 patrol aircraft and 8,000 personnel.

UK and Italian F-35B Lightning jets flew day and night, while warships and submarines from both countries trained together, practising anti-submarine tactics.

The training was also a test of air defence skills, including dealing with aerial drone attacks.

There are 12 countries participating in the CSG deployment, known as Operation Highmast, which will last eight months and cover more than 30,000 miles.

The CSG will conduct further large-scale exercises with allies in the Middle East, Japan and Australia.

Over 4,500 British military personnel are involved, including nearly 600 RAF, 900 soldiers, and 2,500 Royal Navy sailors and Royal Marines.

For more reports about Carrier Strike Group 25, click here.