China, South Korea Evacuate Nationals From Middle East as Tensions Rise
ISTANBUL — China and South Korea have begun evacuating hundreds of their citizens from the Middle East as regional tensions intensify following recent attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel, according to the state-run Xinhua News Agency.
China relocates citizens through Azerbaijan
Chinese authorities have already moved more than 260 citizens out of Iran. They crossed into Azerbaijan under an evacuation plan coordinated by the Embassy of China in Iran.
Officials arranged the operation to ensure the safe departure of nationals as the regional security situation continued to worsen.
South Korea assists nationals across the region
Meanwhile, South Korea has been helping its citizens leave several Middle Eastern countries.
Authorities relocated 65 South Korean nationals from Qatar to Saudi Arabia. In addition, 41 travelers departed Jordan on commercial flights with support from embassy staff in Amman.
Officials also transferred other citizens from Kuwait, Bahrain, Israel, and Iraq to neighboring countries as part of the ongoing evacuation efforts.
Charter flight planned for stranded citizens
The South Korean government plans to operate a charter flight with a capacity of 290 seats. The aircraft, operated by Etihad Airways, will depart from Abu Dhabi on Sunday to bring home citizens stranded in the United Arab Emirates.
According to Yonhap News Agency, around 3,000 South Koreans remain in the UAE due to widespread flight disruptions.
Australia urges citizens to leave
At the same time, Australia has advised its citizens across the region to leave using available commercial flights as tensions continue to rise.
Conflict in the region escalates
Regional instability has grown rapidly since the United States and Israel launched large-scale attacks on Iran. The strikes reportedly killed more than 1,000 people, including Ali Khamenei, senior military officials, and more than 150 schoolgirls.
Following the attacks, Iran launched retaliatory strikes targeting US bases, diplomatic facilities, and military personnel across the region. Several Israeli cities have also faced missile barrages.
As a result, the conflict continues to escalate, raising concerns about broader instability across the Middle East.
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