ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq’s Ministry of Transport on Thursday announced three new evacuation flights to repatriate Iraqi citizens stranded in India, as part of ongoing efforts to return nationals affected by regional disruptions.
The flights will depart from New Delhi, the capital of India, and arrive at Arar Airport in Saudi Arabia, according to the ministry.
“The flights will be operated by Iraqi Airways today, Thursday, and tomorrow, Friday,” ministry spokesperson Maytham Safi told Rudaw on Thursday.
He called on Iraqi citizens, including those from the Kurdistan Region, who wish to return home to visit Iraqi Airways offices or the Iraqi embassy in New Delhi as soon as possible to complete the required travel procedures.
The flights are being organized in coordination with Iraq’s embassy in Saudi Arabia, with returnees transported to Arar Airport before continuing their journey.
The new flights are part of what officials have described as an “air bridge” operation launched to bring back Iraqis stranded abroad amid ongoing regional instability, caused by the US-Israel war against Iran.
According to Safi, Iraqi Airways has already carried out six evacuation flights from New Delhi and Cairo in recent days, all arriving at Arar Airport.
“Four of the flights were from New Delhi and two from Cairo,” he said, noting that a total of 657 Iraqi citizens have been repatriated so far.
Authorities say efforts are ongoing to ensure the safe return of all remaining Iraqi nationals abroad.
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