The Royal Navy has been deployed to protect British ships in the Gulf amid escalating tensions over Donald Trump ’s drone killing of Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani . Ben Wallace , the defence secretary, said he has ordered two British warships to return to the Strait of Hormuz imminently to guide British-flagged vessels through the key oil passage.He said the government “will take all necessary steps to protect our ships and citizens at this time” as Type 23 frigate HMS Montrose and Type 45 destroyer HMS Defender were deployed on Saturday.Sharing the full story, not just the headlinesThe move came as the Foreign Office strengthened its travel warnings across the region as fears of all-out war heightened.Tehran has vowed harsh retaliation after US president Donald Trump authorised the killing of General Qassem Soleimani in an airstrike on Thursday.The US has also dispatched 3,000 extra troops to Kuwait.Thousands of supporters chanted “death to America” as they marched in a funeral procession through Baghdad.