This emergency measure has been taken as a direct consequence of the escalation of hostilities in the region, marked by the attacks of the United States and Israel against Iran and the subsequent military response of this regime against neighboring countries.
During a press conference following the Council of Ministers meeting, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, announced that the evacuation operations are already fully operational in different territories affected by the crisis. Albares emphasized the need to maintain strict confidentiality about the details of these actions for security reasons, stating that the Government will refrain from providing specific details about the operations until the rescue missions have been successfully completed.
The first group of evacuees, consisting of 175 Spaniards, is expected to arrive in Madrid this Tuesday around 7:00 PM. This contingent is traveling on a commercial flight operated by Etihad Airlines that departed from Abu Dhabi. Additionally, the Spanish Government is arranging for additional flights from the United Arab Emirates with a layover in Istanbul. However, the feasibility of these air routes critically depends on the airspace remaining open, an uncertain factor due to the constant missile launches by the United States, Israel, and Iran, leading to the preventive closure of airspace in multiple territories in the region.
Given the complexity of the situation, the repatriation operations will not be limited solely to air travel. Minister Albares explained that the Government will utilize all available means, including land routes, to facilitate the return of Spaniards. The duration and level of difficulty of these interventions will vary significantly depending on the country of origin, but the Ministry's primary goal is to evacuate as many citizens as possible who wish to leave the conflict zone as soon as possible.