Military chief Radakin praises Sudan airlift

The head of the Armed Forces said he is "pleased" with how the evacuation from Sudan has gone, ahead of an extra Royal Air Force flight out of the war-torn nation.

Speaking at RAF Odiham on Sunday during a full-scale rehearsal for the King's coronation, Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said the military was capable of both preparing for the Royal event and undertaking duties abroad.

He said: "We've got the capacity to deal with lots of different things at different times. I was in Ukraine earlier this week and met my opposite number General (Valerii) Zaluzhnyi.

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"I accompanied the National Security Adviser Tim Barrow and we had a meeting with President (Volodymyr) Zelensky.

"We have also been involved in the evacuation from Sudan. And I'm pleased with how that has gone.

"We can do this ceremonial parade and at the same time we fulfil all of our operational duties to keep our nation safe and to help it prosper."

Asked whether he would rule out military intervention in Sudan, Admiral Sir Tony said: "The Armed Forces respond to whatever is required.

"But this is what we call a non-combatant evacuation operation and it's firmly remained in that space."

Some 2,122 people have been flown out on 23 flights from an airfield near Khartoum since fighting began but more than 1,000 UK nationals may remain.