Iran-Israel: Austria Assisted in the Departure of 350 People

On Monday morning, a plane organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Austrian Airlines landed from Sharm El Sheikh in Vienna-Schwechat, the Foreign Ministry announced. Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger (NEOS) personally welcomed the people at the airport.

In the plane, 155 people who had traveled from Israel to the resort town of Sharm El Sheikh with buses organized by the embassy in Tel Aviv were able to be brought to Austria. In addition to 78 Austrians, their non-Austrian family members and nationals from 16 partner countries (Albania, Germany, France, Ireland, Israel, Canada, Croatia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Switzerland, Slovakia, Spain, Hungary, USA, United Kingdom) also found space on the plane.

Since the beginning of the air war with Israel last Friday, more than 140 people, including over 60 Austrians, have been able to leave Iran thanks to the efforts of the Austrian embassy in Tehran with six buses overland, the Foreign Ministry also announced in a statement.

Foreign Ministry spoke of a "joint effort"

The Foreign Ministry spoke of a "joint effort" involving the Austrian embassies in Tel Aviv, Tehran, Amman, Cairo, Ankara, and Tbilisi, as well as partners. "The safety of Austrians is our top priority," emphasized Foreign Minister Meinl-Reisinger. "I am pleased that we were able to support so many people in leaving Israel and Iran." The embassy teams in the region are on duty around the clock for this purpose.

The border crossings from Israel to Jordan and Egypt, as well as from Iran to Armenia, remain open for Austrian citizens, according to the Foreign Ministry. Independent departures from both Israel and Iran are therefore still possible. The Foreign Ministry also strongly advises against traveling to the crisis region at this time. Furthermore, it asks all Austrians in the region to register via https://auslandsregistrierung.bmeia.gv.at.

Special forces of the Federal Army also deployed

Special forces of the Federal Army are also deployed. Since June 16, according to the Ministry of Defense, ten specially trained soldiers, including a doctor and paramedic, have been in the area of Israel and Jordan, supporting the respective diplomatic representation in creating and updating crisis plans as well as evacuating Austrian citizens. Austrians who cannot independently reach the airport are picked up by the teams on site and taken to the airport. The special forces, who were last on site in Israel in 2023, will remain in the crisis area until further notice, it was said.

"The Federal Army provides extraordinary expertise in crisis situations - also in the safe departure of Austrians from dangerous regions," emphasized Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner (ÖVP). The close cooperation of the defense attachés with Austrian representations and the experts of the Federal Army is essential to enable a safe and controlled departure.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.