Türkiye monitors citizen safety across Middle East amid escalating war

Türkiye's Foreign Ministry is actively monitoring the safety and well-being of Turkish citizens residing in or visiting Middle Eastern nations impacted by the expanding conflict, spokesperson Öncü Keçeli confirmed Friday. In a social media statement, Keçeli emphasized that necessary measures are being implemented through diplomatic missions to protect Turkish nationals in countries targeted by ongoing attacks.

Evacuation Routes and Guidance

Keçeli stated that Turkish citizens can depart from Iraq, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Oman, and Jordan via various transportation routes, with diplomatic missions in those countries providing guidance on safe travel arrangements. Emergency hotlines operate 24/7 at all Turkish diplomatic missions abroad, and citizens are urged to closely follow announcements from local Turkish representations.

Air Travel Disruptions

Currently, no direct air connections exist from Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait to Türkiye, while flights from the United Arab Emirates remain rare and operate only under exceptional circumstances. Authorities are working to organize bus services to facilitate overland transfer of Turkish citizens from these four countries to Saudi Arabia and Oman, from where they can fly home. However, implementation depends on approval from local authorities. Keçeli stressed that regional conditions are changing rapidly and urged citizens to stay informed through official channels.

Regional Context

The announcement comes as the US-Israeli offensive against Iran, launched February 28, has now killed more than 1,000 people including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior military officials. Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and Gulf countries hosting US assets, disrupting global markets and prompting widespread evacuations of foreign nationals.