Flights with evacuees from Israel arrive in Slovakia and Czech Republic
Slovakia's Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar, flanked by Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Robert Kalinak, speaks to the media following disembarkment of repatriated Slovaks, along with Czechs, Austrians and Slovenians, returning from Israel, from a flight from Amman, after they left the region following a missile attack from Iran on Israel, at M. R. Stefanik Airport, in Bratislava, Slovakia, June 16, 2025. REUTERS/Radovan Stoklasa
Slovakia's Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar, Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Robert Kalinak wait for repatriated Slovaks, along with Czechs, Austrians and Slovenians, returning from Israel, to disembark from a flight from Amman, after they left the region following a missile attack from Iran on Israel, at M. R. Stefanik Airport, in Bratislava, Slovakia, June 16, 2025. REUTERS/Radovan Stoklasa
Flights with evacuees from Israel arrive in Slovakia and Czech Republic
Flights carrying evacuees from Israel have arrived in Slovakia and the Czech Republic amid the war between Iran and Israel, authorities said on Tuesday, making these countries among the first to get their citizens out of the Middle East.
Slovak authorities said that the first evacuation flight with 73 people, including 25 Slovak tourists and five family members of Slovak diplomats working in Tel Aviv, had arrived in the capital Bratislava late on Monday.
Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar said Slovakia had also helped bring citizens of other countries to Europe, including 15 Poles, 14 Czechs, nine Austrians, two Slovenians and one citizen each of Estonia, Spain and Malaysia.
"Our partners are contacting us and we are preparing another flight on Tuesday, which should include citizens of the Slovak Republic, as well as citizens of the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Latvia, and France," Blanar said.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said Slovakia had helped evacuate seven Hungarians.
Czech Defence Minister Jana Cernochova said that a flight with 66 people evacuated from Israel had landed near Prague.
Poland said on Monday that it was organising the evacuation of around 200 of its citizens from Israel via Jordan. REUTERS
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