Foreign Ministry has repatriated nearly 3,000 Spaniards from the Middle East

Eduardo González The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already repatriated nearly 3,000 Spaniards who fled the Middle East due to the escalation of armed conflict throughout the region, following the Israeli and US offensive against Iran and the retaliatory attacks launched by the Islamic Republic. According to sources at the Foreign Ministry this Thursday, March 5, all the Spaniards who requested evacuation from Iran have managed to leave the country. In the first phase, they crossed the border into Azerbaijan, and this same Thursday they departed from Baku (Azerbaijan) to Istanbul (Turkey), from where they will return to Spain throughout the day on two flights, one to Madrid and the other to Barcelona. Likewise, 172 people were repatriated this Thursday from Oman. The vast majority are Spanish citizens, but the flight also carried citizens of the European Union, as well as some citizens of Latin America and one citizen of Vietnam. According to sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry's objective is to repatriate every single Spaniard who wishes to do so. For the remaining Spaniards in the region, evacuation operations, both by land and air, are ongoing. Flights are planned from Dubai to Spain, as well as a military plane from Muscat to the Torrejón Air Base, in addition to commercial flights. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in constant contact with other airlines to ensure that Spaniards who already had tickets can continue to use them. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reminds Spaniards remaining in the region of the importance of maintaining contact with embassies and consulates, as well as using the consular emergency telephone numbers, available on official websites and social media," the sources advise. "The Ministry's crisis room is fully operational," and evacuations "depend on security conditions and the reopening of airspace," they continue. “Spain is acting in coordination with other European countries, guaranteeing that work will continue to facilitate the departure of all Spaniards who request it,” they conclude.

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