Evacuation flights from the Middle East have intensified, with thousands of people fleeing the region as the US-Israeli war with Iran continues to cause air traffic chaos.
The first American evacuation flight left the Middle East after the Trump administration faced criticism for not having an evacuation plan in place. More than 17,500 US citizens have returned home from the Middle East since February 28.
The US has cleared non-emergency personnel and their families to leave several Middle Eastern countries, and Qatari authorities are evacuating residents living near the US embassy after Iranian attacks this week targeted US facilities across the region.
Israel will begin gradually reopening its main international airport to inbound flights today. Evacuation flights also took off from other regional hubs, including Dubai and Jeddah.
Canadian citizens in Israel they will be transported by buses to the Egyptian border. A limited number of people board planes in Beirut. The government is also trying to organize charter flights from the UAE as airspace begins to open up, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said.
British the foreign secretary said the UK was working with airlines to encourage evacuations, while France, Germany, Italy and the Czech Republic had also started organizing flights from the region.
Bahraini national carrier Gulf Air has successfully repatriated more than 400 passengers in transit, it was announced on Thursday.
Oman’s Muscat Airport gears up to be the main hub for return trips to the homeland for travelers/expats arriving from Gulf countries
As the conflict in the Middle East continues to escalate and disrupt global air travel, governments across the world are stepping up… pic.twitter.com/jl68V5mJgE
— Saad Abedine (@SaadAbedine) March 5, 2026
After several days in Dubai, some of the first passengers returned home after airlines including Emirates and Virgin Atlantic resumed limited flights from the United Arab Emirates to cities such as New York, London, Paris and Sydney.
Several countries have recommended that their nationals stay in their homes or leave the region. Japan said it would transport its citizens living in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE by land to Riyadh and Muscat, where airports remain open. India and Australia have also repatriated some of their nationals.
(Vijesti.ba)
