Nearly 7,000 members of the Armed Forces to spend Christmas overseas this year

Almost 7,000 members of the Armed Forces will be deployed overseas this Christmas, while many more will be spending the festive day on operations in the UK.

UK personnel are serving on 40 operations in 30 countries this month, sacrificing time with their families to keep Britain safe.

On Christmas Day last year, 6,300 sailors, marines, soldiers, airmen and airwomen were deployed around the world, serving on 33 operations in 28 countries.

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Hundreds of Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force personnel will ensure the UK is secure at home, watching the skies and patrolling the seas, and they have been thanked by senior defence figures.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: "As members of the Armed Forces settle down to their Christmas dinner, whether at home with family or on operations thousands of miles away, they should feel immense pride at what they have achieved for their nation this year.

"Our personnel are working with partners around the world to protect our interests and promote peace. At home in the UK, sailors, soldiers and aviators keep a constant watch over the skies and seas to maintain our security.

"I know I speak on behalf of the whole country in wishing the Armed Forces a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and thanking them for all they do."

The Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, said: "This Christmas we can be reassured that Britain is safe.

"We are safe because of the collective security provided by Nato and the nuclear deterrent, and most of all we are safe because of the commitment of our servicemen and women and the sacrifices they make every single day to protect the nation and help it prosper.

"We are particularly indebted to those who will be away from their families during the festive period, either on duty in the United Kingdom or serving overseas. We wish them all a very Merry Christmas."

Here is where some of the UK's personnel will be stationed during this festive period:

More than 800 tri-service personnel are stationed in the Falkland Islands to maintain their security.

A Royal Navy nuclear attack submarine sustains the UK’s nuclear deterrent as part of a patrol that has continued for 54 years.

A Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary presence in the Gulf and Indian Ocean is there to promote peace and stability and secure vital trade routes.

Seven Royal Navy ships carry out joint patrols with allies to safeguard critical underwater infrastructure from the English Channel to the Baltic.

A Royal Navy task group and RAF surveillance aircraft are stationed in the Eastern Mediterranean to prevent escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict and provide humanitarian support to people in Gaza.

More than 1,000 soldiers are deployed in Estonia and Poland to bolster Nato's eastern flank.

The UK has personnel in Somalia as part of the United Nations' efforts to restore security and stability in the area.

Sixty Household Division soldiers will continue their watch over royal palaces in London through the Christmas period.

In the United Kingdom, RAF Quick Reaction Alert pilots are on standby to scramble their Typhoon aircraft from RAF Coningsby and RAF Lossiemouth to keep an eye on potentially hostile aircraft approaching UK airspace.