Governments around the world are working to evacuate thousands of their citizens caught in the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, arranging buses, flights, and in some instances, aiding individuals in crossing borders on foot.
Foreign nationals have hurried to depart both nations following Israel’s extraordinary bombing campaign launched last Friday, targeting Iran’s nuclear and military sites, which provoked a response from Tehran.
However, with Israel’s airspace closed and both countries exchanging intense missile fire, many individuals are being evacuated through third nations.
European nations have already brought back hundreds of their citizens from Israel. On Tuesday, the Czech Republic and Slovakia announced they had returned 181 individuals home via government aircraft.
The German government reported that flights were set for Wednesday and Thursday through Jordan, while Poland indicated that the first of its citizens are scheduled to return on Wednesday.
Greece said it had repatriated 105 of its citizens, along with several foreign nationals, through Egypt, while a plane carrying 148 individuals landed in Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital, on Tuesday.
The US ambassador to Israel announced on Wednesday plans to evacuate Americans via air and sea.
“American citizens wishing to leave Israel” can expect evacuation flights and cruise ship departures, Ambassador Mike Huckabee posted on X.
Australia has commenced evacuations for approximately 1,500 citizens from Iran and over 1,200 from Israel — but missile attacks have rendered it too dangerous for civilian flights to land in either location, according to its foreign minister.
Japan has placed military aircraft on standby for around 1,000 Japanese nationals thought to be residing in Israel and about 280 in Iran, as stated by government officials.
Japanese embassies in Iran and Israel are ready to use buses for the evacuation of citizens to neighbouring countries, a government spokesperson confirmed, as the conflict reached its seventh day.
