Nations Rush to Evacuate Citizens as Middle East Flights Halted After Strikes

Countries worldwide are scrambling to bring home hundreds of thousands of their citizens stranded across the Middle East after airspace closures following U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran. Multiple nations have launched charter flights and evacuation efforts, though closed airspace is complicating rescue operations.

Nations across the globe are working urgently to evacuate their citizens from the Middle East after widespread flight cancellations left hundreds of thousands of people stranded following recent U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran.

The crisis has prompted governments to launch emergency repatriation efforts, though closed airspace throughout much of the region is creating significant challenges for rescue operations.

Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong revealed that approximately 115,000 Australians are currently in the affected region. She indicated that discussions with airlines are underway to assist stranded citizens, though evacuations remain challenging while regional airspace stays restricted. “Airspace is not open. So whether or not it is an Australian flight or a commercial flight, the flights are not able to occur,” Wong explained, declining to confirm specific government evacuation plans.

France faces one of the largest evacuation challenges, with roughly 400,000 French citizens spread across about twelve affected nations, including both residents and travelers. Officials report that over 25,000 people have registered through the Foreign Ministry’s “Ariane” tracking system. French authorities have positioned consular teams at Israel’s borders with Egypt and Jordan to help citizens exit overland, while establishing similar operations in the UAE near borders with Oman and Saudi Arabia where flights remain possible.

Germany is taking a targeted approach to assist approximately 30,000 stranded citizens, with officials stating that tour operators should handle most evacuations while military intervention remains a final option. Berlin has arranged two Lufthansa charter flights departing from Riyadh and Muscat, focusing on vulnerable individuals including children, expectant mothers, and disabled travelers. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul confirmed that crisis response teams are assessing border crossing possibilities amid uncertainty about reaching charter departure points.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced his country has developed evacuation plans for thousands of Greek nationals, though implementation remains difficult due to ongoing airspace restrictions.

Italy achieved an early success in evacuation efforts, with a charter flight carrying 127 Italian citizens landing at Rome’s Fiumicino airport late Monday evening, March 2. These passengers had been stranded in Oman or transferred there from Dubai, with one traveler reporting flight costs of approximately 1,500 euros.

The Philippines faces a particularly complex situation with over 2.4 million Filipino workers and residents throughout the Middle East, including 31,000 in Israel and 800 in Iran. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has called on Filipinos in affected areas to seek safety, promising government-arranged repatriation flights once security conditions improve. More than 1,000 migrant workers have already requested evacuation assistance.

Spain has initiated citizen evacuations, with Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares confirming that over 175 Spaniards arrived Tuesday evening on a flight from Abu Dhabi. Additional flights are planned from the United Arab Emirates via Istanbul, while Spain strengthens embassy operations in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain to support ongoing evacuation efforts.

Slovenia organized four police-escorted buses Tuesday to transport Slovenian families with children from Dubai to Muscat airport in Oman, according to Prime Minister Robert Golob’s office. The first evacuation flight departed Tuesday evening with Wednesday morning arrival expected, followed by two additional flights scheduled for Wednesday.

Switzerland has taken a different approach, with foreign ministry officials stating they will not organize evacuations for at least 4,400 Swiss travelers in the region. The ministry noted approximately 35,000 Swiss residents live in affected areas, primarily in Israel and the UAE, while a dedicated helpline has handled about 2,000 inquiries since Saturday.

The United Arab Emirates is facilitating departures by launching “special flights” across the country’s airports to help tens of thousands of stranded passengers leave the region, according to state media reports.

The United Kingdom has begun initial repatriation operations, with the first flights carrying British nationals arriving Monday evening. Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated the UK is “working on all options” to support an estimated 300,000 British citizens in the region, urging them to follow local guidance and official travel advisories. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper confirmed that 102,000 Britons have registered their location with the Foreign Office.

The United States has issued urgent departure advisories for Americans in more than a dozen Middle Eastern countries but has not yet announced specific repatriation flights. Mora Namdar, the State Department’s assistant secretary for consular affairs, urged U.S. citizens to leave using available commercial transportation “due to safety risks.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio encouraged Americans to register with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program and monitor ongoing security updates.