Israel starts flying home citizens stranded abroad during conflict with Iran
TEL AVIV — Israel has started flying home citizens stranded overseas during the conflict with Iran, with two flights from Cyprus landing in Tel Aviv on Wednesday morning.
Israel's airspace has been closed since the country launched a surprise airstrike campaign against Iran on Friday. Iran has retaliated with hundreds of drones and missiles.
A total of 13 repatriation flights were scheduled on Wednesday from Larnaca to Israel, with nine to Haifa and four to Tel Aviv, according to an airport operator in Cyprus.
Israel's transport ministry says that up to 150,000 Israelis are currently outside the country, about a third of whom are trying to return home.
Many Israelis stranded abroad have ended up in Cyprus, which is the closest EU country to Israel. The jets of Israel's three airlines have been moved to Larnaca since the conflict with Iran began last week.
The conflict has forced most countries in the Middle East to close their airspace. Dozens of airports have halted all flights or significantly reduced operations, leaving tens of thousands of passengers stranded and others unable to flee the conflict or return home.
At least 400 Israeli citizens are reported to be stranded along Bulgaria's Black Sea coast.
One of those tourists, Galid, told Euronews that she did not know when she and her family would be able to return home to Israel.
"We can't go back now. We can't. We'll have to stay here with the children and wait. Nothing can be done right now. That's it. It's war," Galid said.
Two other tourists, Eden and Itai, stated that they had ruled out the possibility of flying to Jordan or Egypt and then entering Israel through the land border because they had a young child.
The hotels where the stranded Israelis are staying in Bulgaria have been placed under increased police presence and security measures in recent days.
Israel's national carrier El Al has said it intends to operate dozens of flights to repatriate Israelis from various European capitals such as Athens, Rome and Paris. Smaller carrier Arkia will fly back Israeli citizens from Greece, Cyprus and Montenegro, while Israir is operating flights for the country's stranded tourists from Cyprus, Greece and Bulgaria.
However, passenger flights are still not departing from Israel, which means that tens of thousands of tourists are currently stranded in the country.
Israeli airstrikes hit Iran's capital Tehran overnight and into Wednesday morning, as Iran launched a small barrage of missiles at Israel with no reports of casualties.
The attacks between the bitter rivals have opened a new chapter in their turbulent recent history. Many in the region fear a wider conflict as they watch waves of missiles fly across their skies every night.
A Washington-based Iranian human rights group, Human Rights Activists, says at least 585 people, including 239 civilians, have been killed and more than 1,300 wounded by Israel's strikes on Iran.
Since Friday, Iran has fired about 400 missiles and hundreds of drones in retaliatory strikes that have killed at least 24 people in Israel, all civilians, and wounded hundreds, according to Israeli authorities. — Euronews
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Saudi Gazette
29 minutes ago
- Saudi Gazette
US defends Iran strikes at UN Council as Russia and China condemn action
NEW YORK — The United States and Israel on Sunday at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) strongly defended their military action targeting Iran's nuclear sites, saying the regime in Tehran cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon. Their remarks came at the UN emergency meeting called by Iran in the wake of US-led strikes on three key Iranian nuclear sites on Sunday, prompting reactions from several UN member states. "The time finally came for the United States in the defence of its ally and in the defence of our own citizens and interests, to act decisively", Dorothy Shea, the US representative to the UN Security Council. "The Iranian regime cannot have a nuclear weapon", she stressed. Israel's envoy, in his remarks, praised the US for the targeted strikes on the Iranian facilities in Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan, warning that a nuclear-armed Iran spelt danger to the world. "Make no mistake, the cost of inaction would have been catastrophic. A nuclear Iran would have been a death sentence, just as much for you as it would have been for us," Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations Danny Danon said. The US military struck three sites in Iran early Sunday, entering into Israel's effort to destroy Iran's nuclear program in a gambit to weaken a longtime adversary said to be working towards a nuclear decision to directly involve the US comes after more than a week of strikes by Israel on Iran that have moved to systematically eradicate the country's air defences and offensive missile capabilities, while damaging its nuclear enrichment vowed retaliation for the US strikes on its nuclear facilities."The timing, nature and scale of Iran's proportionate response will be decided by its armed forces", Amir Saeid Iravani, the permanent representative of Iran to the United Nations, told the UNSC, accusing Israel and the US of destroying key allies, Russia and China, strongly condemned the US military action. They proposed that the 15-member body adopt a resolution calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in the Middle members are expected to respond by Monday night. However, a resolution must have at least nine votes and not be vetoed by the US, the UK, France, Russia or China to the session, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a peaceful solution and diplomacy, saying, 'We cannot – and must not – give up on peace.'He urged immediate and decisive action to halt the fighting and return to 'serious, sustained negotiations' on Iran's nuclear program. He called for talks to find a verifiable solution with full access by UN nuclear inspectors and a restoration of urging a return to diplomacy and a peaceful solution, Guterres stressed on Sunday that one path leads to wider war, while the other leads to de-escalation and dialogue. 'We know which path is right,' he said. — Euronews
Leaders
3 hours ago
- Leaders
Iranian Military Commanders Threaten US with Harsh Response
A day after the US struck three of Iran's key nuclear facilities, top Iranian military commanders issued strong warnings to Washington, vowing revenge. On Monday, the newly-elected Chief of Staff of Iran's Armed Forces, Abdolrahim Mousavi, said that the US has 'opened the door to retaliation' against its interests and forces, according to a statement carried out by Mehr news agency. He added that the US, by backing Israel in its war on Iran, 'openly and directly entered the war by violating Iran's sovereignty' and has become a 'direct party to the aggression.' Furthermore, Mousavi emphasized that the Iranian Armed Forces 'will never back down.' Similarly, the spokesperson for the Armed Forces' central command, Ibrahim Zolfaqari, warned that Iran's response will involve 'powerful and targeted operations that will inflict heavy, regretful, and unpredictable consequences,' reported CNN. The Iranian commander also addressed the US President: 'Gambler Trump, you can start this war, but we will be the ones who end it.' The stark warnings come as Iran is weighing its response to the US strikes on its nuclear facilities in Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan. The conflict between Iran and Israel has been raging since June 13, 2025, when Israel launched a military operation to destroy Iran's nuclear program before Tehran builds a bomb. The two countries have been exchanging heavy air and missile strikes. Early on Sunday, the US intervened in the conflict by bombing Iran's nuclear facilities. Iran, in turn, said it has the right to defend itself with full force against the US aggression, raising fears of further escalation and a wider conflict. As a result, the US issued a Worldwide Caution Security Alert to Americans abroad, advising them to exercise increased caution amid the mounting tensions in the Middle East. Short link :
Leaders
3 hours ago
- Leaders
INTERVIEW-Tehran's Response will be Limited to Escalation with Israel: Dr. Youssef Badr
As the conflict between Iran and Israel entered its tenth day, the US joined to Israel's side, striking three key nuclear facilities in Iran with bunker-buster bombs and Tomahawk missiles and risking further escalation. The announcement came early on Sunday, as the US President, Donald Trump, declared that Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities, Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan, have been 'completely and totally obliterated.' In response, Iran accused Washington of launching a dangerous war on Tehran, in complicity with Israel, warning of the 'everlasting consequences' of the US strikes and stressing Iran's right to respond. The recent escalation has put the world on edge, as Tehran is weighing its response, including the possibility of closing the Hormuz Strait – a move that could send shockwaves across the global economy. As a result, world powers have called for restraint and de-escalation, urging all sides to return to diplomacy. To gain more insights into the ongoing conflict, Leaders MENA Magazine reached out for Dr. Youssef Badr, a scholar of Middle Eastern affairs. In this interview, Dr. Badr explains the implications of the recent developments on Iran and the wider region. Iran's Nuclear Program Q: Have the US and Israeli strikes succeeded in eliminating Iran's nuclear program? Officially, Trump promotes that the Iranian nuclear program is obliterated in order to end the war. In fact, however, the US and Israel have not managed to completely eliminate the Iranian nuclear program. They have just disrupted it. The Iranian nuclear program cannot be obliterated because – unlike projects previously destroyed in Libya or Iraq – it depends on national expertise, whether in terms of scientists, equipment production, or facility construction. Therefore, the US policy, which was swayed by the Israeli narrative, does not appear successful because the Iranian project could go underground. In this case, it will be more dangerous than monitoring it by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Tehran's Options Q: Would Iran escalate or succumb to Trump's threats and choose peaceful settlement? And what options does Tehran have to respond? Tehran will not accept a forced peace, just as it has rejected a forced war. Hence, it will not be easy for the Iranians to accept any settlement that comes at the expense of their status and regional interests. Iran's history bears this out. The Iranians did not end war with Iraq – even though they were not the ones who initiated it – until they secured their demands. Indeed, Iran welcomes an end to the war, but not in the form of a capitulation. Any settlement must yield benefits. The Iranians may not oppose giving up the right to uranium enrichment in exchange of something bigger, such as the return of Iran to the global economy in a competitive way. Tehran's options to respond to the US strikes will remain limited to escalation with the Israelis and disturbing the Americans. The Iranian military strategy does not invite a war with the US and consider it a red line. However, Iran has the ability to endure a long attrition war, although the large geographical distance between Iran and Israel makes it unlikely. Escalation Risks Q: Trump told the Iranians that there are 'many targets left' that the US could strike if 'peace does not come quickly.' In your opinion, what was Trump referring to? It is a warning message to pressure Iran to accept a deal that brings the war to an end. He means draining what is left of Iran's economic, military or nuclear capabilities. Despite Tehran's rejection of ending the war, negotiations have not stopped and Trump sends messages to Iran through mediators. Moreover, the Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's visit to Moscow indicates that reaching a solution is possible, particularly that Tehran met with the E3. This also indicates a failure of Trump's policy, which refused multilateral talks in the beginning. Intervention Implications Q: What potential repercussions does the US' military intervention in Iran have on the Middle East and the world? Two nuclear powers attacked an undeclared nuclear state, which has a nuclear program that, despite suspicions, has not been proven to be non-peaceful. This undermines the UN Charter and constitutes a failure of the IAEA's mission and goals. Therefore, it makes the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) membership pointless, especially that Trump publicly acknowledged striking nuclear facilities and NASA confirmed the operation. Furthermore, Israel's involvement in the operation will drive the region's countries to seriously consider the danger of Israel's nuclear capabilities, aside from Iran's issue. Similarly, the American move emboldens Russia to replicate the strike against Ukrainian nuclear facilities. Russia and China Q: How do you assess the positions of Russia and China toward the current escalation? Would they intervene in the conflict? Russia has taken advantage of the West's focus on Iran, intensifying its strikes on Ukraine and occupying more territories to gain more bargaining chips with the Western powers. Despite limited support, there will be no direct Russian intervention to Iran's side unless Iran agreed to include military partnership in the strategic agreement between the two countries. But this risks broadening the war. Current conflicts involve a side that engages in a direct confrontation and another side that provides undeclared support, as seen with NATO's unofficial support to Ukraine. Moreover, Moscow does not want a strong Iran as this will deny Russia an avenue to maneuver against Western and European sanctions. At the same time, it does not welcome the fall or fragmentation of Iran. In such case, Russia could reoccupy the northern regions of Iran to protect its interests and influence. As for China, Iran is not like Pakistan, which borders China and received its support against India. Still, Iran is important for China as a gateway to Europe, the Gulf and the Middle East. So, it does not welcome its collapse. Meanwhile, Russia and China are both responsible for the dilapidated state that Iran is experiencing. The two countries have not given Tehran its demanded weapons, defense systems and fighter jets, under the pretext of compliance to international sanctions. Thus, Iran has not received sufficient development since it aligned itself with them. Domestic Impacts of Escalation Q: How is the current conflict impacting Iran domestically? And is the collapse of the regime imminent? There are opponents, even enemies, to the current regime. But at the same time, there are supporters, and Iran's social and organizational structure is contributing to protecting this regime. Just as the opposition propaganda claims that the Iranian regime has begun to erode, the current war may have given it a new lease on life. The regime managed to adapt to the war in Iraq for eight years. Additionally, the 2015 nuclear deal granted Iran an opportunity for change, as a result of its engagement with the West – a development that unsettled Russia and China. However, Trump scrapped the deal and caused a mistrust in the West. This lack of trust in the Western powers will keep pushing Iranians toward alignment with Moscow and Beijing. Short link : Post Views: 10
