STRANDED Brits trapped in the crosshairs of war spoke of their horror yesterday as the Middle East burned — and begged for help to get home.
Holidaymakers are among 300,000 sheltering from rocket attacks fired “indiscriminately” by Iran‘s death cult as it desperately clings to power.
They fled in terror to makeshift bomb shelters across the Gulf as warheads and kamikaze drones were shot down in the skies above.
But they remain cut off and with little hope of getting home after the airspace around the region was closed amid the mayhem of ongoing aerial attacks.
Thousands of flights have already been cancelled and it remains unclear when airports will reopen amid escalating tension.
Former England footballer Rio Ferdinand, 47, and wife, Kate, 34, are among the Brits in Dubai sheltering from the blasts
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The couple moved to the UAE in August last year with their children, Shae, two, Cree, five, and Rio’s daughter Tia, 14.
Rio said: “It’s frightening when you hear missiles, planes and fighter jets…going above us.
“It’s telling your kids what it is and helping them navigate through this moment, which is important especially as the dad of the house.
“You want to try and remain calm and keep everybody as calm as possible.”
Over 100,000 have already contacted the Foreign Office to register their presence as the Government raced to draw up contingency plans.
But PM Sir Keir Starmer has not outlined any rescue mission and instead urged those stranded to simply monitor the travel advice.
Rapid response teams from the Foreign Office would be deployed on the ground and phone lines open to offer support, he added.
Last night, terrified Brits continued to shelter in lobbies, basements and car parks as the war raged on.
Fresh missile attacks were reported in Dubai and Qatar, while a drone struck of the world’s largest oil refineries in Saudi Arabia.
In Israel, meanwhile, mourners took cover as sirens sounded during the funeral of two victims of an Iranian airstrike the previous day.
Israeli forces also struck targets in Lebanon, killing 52.
In Dubai, Brit mum-of-four Salli Oliver said her £6,500 dream holiday had turned into a nightmare in the rapidly escalating crisis.
She ran for cover from incoming missiles just hours after the US and Israel launched a devastating blitz on the Islamic Republic.
Salli, 46, who is holidaying with engineer partner Kevin Pell, 39, and sons Jayden, 18, and Reece, 15, said they had been left in limbo. She told The Sun: “No one is taking responsibility to help us. Travel providers won’t pick up the cost because they don’t cover terrorism or war.
“We’re like sitting ducks and the best we’re being told to stay put. We’d like to leave straight away but we’re stuck. We’re in absolute limbo and have got no answers.
“We’ve even considered driving to Saudi Arabia so we can just get on a plane home.” They fled to the basement of their five-star hotel as explosions erupted overhead in the UAE city on Saturday.
Salli, of Grimsby, Lincs, said: “We were just about to have a drink at the hotel when every phone’s alert went off. We ran back upstairs for the boys.
“The lifts stopped working and everyone was stampeding down the stairs. I was ringing my mum telling her I loved her because I honestly thought we were going to die. There were women and kids in the basement on the floor crying.”
She added: “I just want to get home to my other kids. They’re ringing us all the time worried out of their minds.”
Golf instructor James Gill, 31, was staying in Dubai to celebrate girlfriend Rebecca Crawford’s 28th birthday when it began.
James, of Galashiels in the Scottish Borders, said: “There is no word of what we should do in this situation. I witnessed a missile being shot out of the sky. It was pretty surreal to see.” He said their families back home were “worried sick” but the next available flight out would cost him £5,000.
Retired train driver Nick Westwood, 62, and wife Joanne, 61, of Barnham, West Sussex, have been sleeping in the lobby of their high-rise Dubai holiday rental. They were due to fly out on Sunday just 24 hours after the strikes hit Iran.
But they have been forced to extend their seven-day stay with no idea when they will get out. Nick said: “It is very, very scary, very stressful and it’s just like being trapped in limbo.”
Another British couple forked out an extra £2,000 for new flights to get home for a funeral – without knowing if the plane will take off.
Claire, 42, and husband Chris, 47, who run a pub in Braunston, Northants, were staying at the Five Palm Hotel in Dubai with their children Noah, 18, and Pippa, 17 Claire said: “There were a couple of intercepted missiles overhead, very loud — it’s not a case of just being on holiday for a few more days.”
The PM told MPs: “We’re asking all British citizens in the region to register their presence so we can provide the best possible support and to monitor travel advice which is being regularly updated.”
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch asked if plans for a potential evacuation of UK citizens were being drawn up.
Sir Keir replied: “I can assure her and the House we’re working at speed with our partners in the region to take whatever measures we can to make sure that our people can return as safely and swiftly as possible and will continue to do so.”
