Published on 03/03/2026 – 16:41 GMT+1•Updated 16:53
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced on Tuesday that France will begin facilitating the evacuation of its citizens from the Middle East as the conflict in Iran extends into its fourth day.
Evacuation plans for vulnerable individuals
Barrot informed reporters that the government is preparing charter flights aimed at assisting the most vulnerable individuals. He highlighted that approximately 400,000 French nationals are currently located in various countries within the Gulf region, which are being targeted by Iranian drone and missile strikes aimed at US military assets. He stated,
“Most countries have closed their airspace, so it’s hard to leave these countries. But if you have the opportunity to do so, do it.”
While he did not explicitly call for an immediate return of French citizens, Barrot emphasized the importance of prioritizing their safety and interests, alongside efforts to de-escalate the situation swiftly. A census of French travelers is currently being conducted through the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs’ Ariane portal.
Global evacuation efforts
In the wake of most nations closing their airspace to civilian flights following recent US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, tens of thousands of people find themselves stranded in the region. Several countries have initiated evacuation flights for their nationals, with two flights carrying 200 passengers each arriving in Prague on Tuesday morning. Germany announced plans to deploy aircraft to Saudi Arabia and Oman to assist their vulnerable travelers, with around 30,000 Germans reported to be stuck in the region, according to the German Tourism Association.
Additionally, travel firm TUI has announced it will commence flying home 5,000 clients who are currently stranded on two cruise ships in the Gulf, utilizing Dubai as their point of departure. Italian nationals are also being repatriated, as three evacuation flights are expected to arrive in Rome and Milan later on Tuesday.
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper confirmed that a UK government charter flight is set to bring home British nationals from Oman within the coming days, while British Airways has scheduled a return flight from Oman on Thursday. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares announced that Spain is also organizing evacuation efforts, with an Etihad flight carrying Spanish citizens scheduled to land in Madrid on Tuesday evening.