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Evacuations during the 2026 Iran war

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During the 2026 Iran war, a series of evacuations took place across Iran and the broader Middle East, involving civilians, foreign nationals, military personnel, and diplomatic staff. These evacuations were prompted by joint United States and Israeli airstrikes on Iran beginning February 28, 2026, which led to retaliatory Iranian missile and drone attacks on U.S. bases and allied nations in the region. The conflict disrupted air travel, closed airspace in multiple countries, and created widespread security risks, stranding hundreds of thousands and necessitating government-organized repatriations.

Background

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The 2026 Iran war started on February 28, 2026, with coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, military leadership, and infrastructure, including the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran retaliated with ballistic missiles and drones aimed at Israel, U.S. military installations in the Persian Gulf, and civilian sites in allied states, causing widespread disruption.[1]

Prior to the strikes, the U.S. Pentagon had quietly evacuated several bases in the Middle East, citing their proximity to Iranian short-range missiles as untenable.[2] Foreign embassies issued travel advisories as early as February 23, urging citizens to depart Iran amid rising tensions.[3]

Evacuations within Iran

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Collateral damage from strikes prompted localized evacuations in Iran. In Bushehr, infants from a damaged hospital's neonatal unit were transferred by ambulance to safer facilities.[4] Tehran's Gandhi Hospital was cleared after nearby explosions, with the World Health Organization verifying the move and investigating hits on three other medical centers.[5]

Evacuations of foreign nationals

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Numerous countries organized repatriations for citizens stranded by airspace closures and strikes. The U.S. State Department urged immediate departure from 14 countries, including Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the UAE, and Yemen, citing severe safety risks.[6] It facilitated charter flights from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan, contacting nearly 3,000 Americans.[7]

The UK, Spain, Italy, and Germany chartered flights, with Germany estimating 30,000 citizens stranded and Italy reporting 58,000 stuck in the region.[8] France noted 400,000 nationals in the Middle East requiring potential assistance.[9] Over 200 people from 16 countries exited Iran via Turkmenistan.[10]

In Asia, Indian student associations demanded relocation for about 1,200 MBBS students in Iran, particularly after strikes near Urmia University dormitories.[11] Japan prepared Self-Defense Forces for expat extractions. Armenia and Azerbaijan received around 1,500 evacuees via land borders, including 300 Iranians in Armenia and diverse nationals like Chinese and Russians in Azerbaijan.[12] Over 300 fled Iran through Azerbaijan alone, representing 19 nationalities.[13]

Military and diplomatic evacuations

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The U.S. ordered non-emergency personnel and families to leave diplomatic posts in the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, and Jordan, closing several missions amid threats.[14] The U.S. Embassy in Jordan was temporarily evacuated due to an unspecified security threat.[15] Qatar evacuated residents near its U.S. Embassy in Doha as a precaution.[16]

Impact

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The evacuations strained global travel, with over 20,000 flights canceled and major hubs like Dubai paralyzed.[17] Stranded individuals faced mayhem, improvising overland routes to open airports in Saudi Arabia or Oman.[18] The war's spread to Lebanon prompted Israeli-ordered evacuations in over 80 southern villages.[19]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Iran war: What is happening on day six of US-Israel attacks?". Al Jazeera. March 5, 2026.
  2. ^ "The 2026 Iran War Shows the Urgent Need for U.S. Enhanced Missile Defense Upgrades". Atlas Institute for International Affairs. March 4, 2026.
  3. ^ "Airstrikes Trigger Panic Among Indian Students In Iran, Associations Demand Evacuation". ETV Bharat. March 3, 2026.
  4. ^ "Babies evacuated from Iranian hospital damaged in US-Israeli strikes". Al Jazeera. March 3, 2026.
  5. ^ "Tehran hospital evacuated after explosions nearby, WHO says". Reuters. March 2, 2026.
  6. ^ "US citizens in the Middle East face 'mayhem' trying to get home". BBC. March 4, 2026.
  7. ^ "Travellers stranded, airlines under pressure as Iran war escalates". Al Jazeera. March 3, 2026.
  8. ^ "No easy way out for tens of thousands looking to leave Gulf amid Iran conflict". Reuters. March 3, 2026.
  9. ^ "Israel Begins 'Broad Wave of Strikes' on Iran's Infrastructure". The New York Times. March 3, 2026.
  10. ^ "Repatriation flights ramp up as nations race to bring citizens home from Middle East". AP News. March 5, 2026.
  11. ^ "Airstrikes Trigger Panic Among Indian Students In Iran, Associations Demand Evacuation". ETV Bharat. March 3, 2026.
  12. ^ "Armenia and Azerbaijan receive around 1,500 evacuees from Iran". OC Media. March 4, 2026.
  13. ^ "Over 300 people have fled Iran via Azerbaijan, source close to government says". Reuters. March 1, 2026.
  14. ^ "US orders some diplomatic staff to leave Middle East as Iran conflict escalates". Reuters. March 3, 2026.
  15. ^ "Iran War Maps: Tracking The Mideast Conflict". The New York Times. March 4, 2026.
  16. ^ "Iran war: What is happening on day six of US-Israel attacks?". Al Jazeera. March 5, 2026.
  17. ^ "Travelers Stranded by U.S.-Israel Conflict With Iran Face Endless Flight Cancellations". The New York Times. March 4, 2026.
  18. ^ "How the Iran war is affecting global travel". BBC. March 3, 2026.
  19. ^ "Iran War Maps: Tracking The Mideast Conflict". The New York Times. March 4, 2026.
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