Middle East in chaos: countries evacuate their citizens

Despite regional travel being paralysed, foreign nationals have been urged to leave the Middle East. Several countries are now working to evacuate stranded nationals, CNN reports.

US: The US is working to assist Americans who want to leave the Middle East, including over 1,500 that asked for help, with a push to secure military aircraft and charter flights. Americans in Israel have “very limited options” to leave the country, said US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, warning that the US embassy was not in a position to assist. US President Donald Trump said there had been no evacuation plan for Americans in the Middle East before they launched the strikes.

UAE: The United Arab Emirates said it had opened safe air corridors with its neighbours to facilitate the return of its citizens and help visitors leave.

Europe: Several European nations have begun evacuating their citizens. The British foreign minister said the UK is working with airlines to boost evacuations, while France arranged two flights on Tuesday. Italy and the Czech Republic have also begun arranging flights out of the region.