Countries Race to Evacuate Nationals Amid Worsening Israel-Iran Air War

As the Israel–Iran conflict enters its second week, a growing number of countries are launching emergency evacuation operations for their citizens. On June 21, governments including India, China, Australia, France, Italy, and the U.S. ramped up efforts to extract diplomats, dual nationals, and civilians from Israel, Lebanon, and parts of Iran. India launched Operation Sindhu, sending military aircraft and buses to Armenia and Jordan to safely transport over 2,000 students and professionals. China confirmed the successful repatriation of 1,600 citizens through coordinated airlifts, while France and Italy arranged chartered flights from Jordan and Cyprus as nearby airspace closures complicated direct departures.

In Tel Aviv and Tehran, embassies are running skeleton operations or closing entirely. The Iranian embassy in Vienna was evacuated on June 20, signaling Tehran’s concern over European escalation. The U.S. has also issued a “Level 4: Do Not Travel” advisory for Iran, Lebanon, and northern Israel, warning of escalating missile fire and military activity.

Jordan has become a key transit hub, coordinating with European and Asian governments to ensure the safe passage of evacuees. Flights from Amman and Aqaba are being scheduled hourly as the situation deteriorates. The United Nations has called for urgent humanitarian corridors, especially in border regions where air raids and missile fire have intensified.

Military analysts are concerned that these coordinated evacuation efforts suggest intelligence agencies anticipate further escalation. A full-blown regional war involving non-state actors like Hezbollah and the Houthis could make international evacuation logistically impossible in coming days.

Meanwhile, Israeli air defense systems continue to intercept dozens of drones and missiles daily, though several have breached defenses, causing casualties in Haifa, Ashkelon, and Beersheba. Civilian panic and fuel shortages are already affecting mobility within major cities.

The evacuation crisis underscores the global reach of the Israel–Iran confrontation and raises pressing questions about the capacity of international institutions to respond to the growing humanitarian fallout.