As the military actions between the United States and Israel against Iran continue, Tehran authorities have swiftly retaliated against neighboring Gulf countries. This has triggered a security crisis in the Middle East region, prompting countries to initiate evacuation plans. European countries, including Italy and Germany, are among those evacuating their citizens from the Middle East.
The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation stated on March 2 that “with the assistance of the Italian Foreign Ministry, the first chartered flight has taken off from Muscat, carrying 127 stranded Italian citizens evacuated from Oman and those transferred from Dubai to Oman.”
On the same day, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul announced in a press release that Germany is evacuating vulnerable groups, including children, pregnant women, and patients, from Riyadh in Saudi Arabia and Muscat in Oman.
Regarding these groups, Wadephul emphasized, “We will also personally send planes for evacuation. Of course, the travel industry must take the lead in shouldering the responsibility. However, if these methods are insufficient, we will not hesitate to engage the German military for assistance.”
French Minister of European and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noel Barrot, shared on social platform X on March 2 that France is actively mobilizing to assist French citizens in the Middle East.
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper mentioned that their team is evaluating all options, including comprehensive evacuation, to assist hundreds of thousands of British citizens to leave the Gulf countries targeted by Iran.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the UK stated in a declaration to the House of Commons on March 2 that they have deployed rapid response forces to support British expatriates in the region. He expressed concerns about an estimated 300,000 British citizens in the area, including residents, family members, and tourists, many of whom are stranded in airports and hotels, causing worry among Parliament and the British people.
He added, “We are exploring all avenues to ensure citizens can return home quickly and safely, and department heads are in direct negotiations with airlines.”
On March 1, France, Germany, and the UK issued a joint statement condemning Iran for launching “indiscriminate” attacks against other Middle Eastern countries and urging Iran to cease these attacks. The three countries hinted at taking “necessary and proportionate defensive actions” to destroy missiles and drones launched by Tehran. Iran’s strikes have targeted the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, and Syria.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized the Iranian regime, stating in a declaration on March 1, “The mullah regime is a terrorist regime that must be held accountable for decades of oppression against the Iranian people. During the recent New Year protests alone, thousands fell victim to this regime’s brutality.”
He continued, “This regime not only threatens the existence of Israel but should also be held responsible for the terrorist acts committed by Hamas and Hezbollah. We are now aligned with the United States and Israel in aiming to end this terrorist regime, thereby halting its nuclear and missile expansion.”
The US State Department issued an urgent call on March 2 for American citizens in Middle Eastern countries and regions to evacuate immediately using any available commercial transportation, citing “serious security risks” in the region.
Countries and areas highlighted by the State Department include Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the UAE, and Yemen.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a video posted on X platform on March 2, stated that following the military actions against Iran, “the State Department has immediately activated a 24/7 response team, deployed necessary manpower and resources to provide the most timely security information to American citizens.”
Rubio also urged, “To receive the latest updates from the nearest US embassy or consulate, please register for the ‘Smart Traveler Enrollment Program’ (STEP). We also encourage American citizens abroad to follow the ‘American Citizen Safety Updates’ channel on WhatsApp and monitor the @TravelGov account on social media.”