KUWAIT CITY, June 21: The first evacuation flight from Ashgabat International Airport in Turkmenistan arrived at Kuwait International Airport Terminal Four (T4) early Saturday morning with 334 citizens on board who were evacuated as part of the emergency plan laid down by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs — in cooperation with the relevant authorities — to ensure the safe return of citizens stranded in Iran due to the regional developments. The flight, operated directly by Kuwait Airways, is the first coordinated flight from Turkmenistan to Kuwait.

This flight was arranged upon completion of procedures to determine the actual number of Kuwaiti citizens in several Iranian cities, followed by their land transport to Turkmenistan, in preparation for their air repatriation. Specialized teams at Kuwait International Airport made advanced preparations to receive the returning citizens, facilitate their entry procedures, and provide them with the necessary care.

This reflects the integrated national efforts to ensure the safety of citizens abroad. Sources praised the extensive field efforts exerted by the ministry and the Kuwaiti Embassy in Tehran, which led to effective communication with citizens and coordinated their transit outside Iran, resulting in the success of the first phase of the evacuation plan. Sources also lauded the pivotal role played by Kuwait Airways in harnessing its capabilities to operate the direct flight from Ashgabat to Kuwait at a sensitive time and under exceptional circumstances. They emphasized that this embodies the commitment of the airline to efficiently play its national role as a strategic partner in times of crisis. In a related development, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in an official statement the arrival of the first batch of Kuwaiti citizens returning from Iran through Turkmenistan.

The statement disclosed that Deputy Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad welcomed the returning citizens upon their arrival in the country — a move that is considered a manifestation of the commitment of the ministry to implement the directives of the political leadership and its utmost concern for the safety of citizens abroad.

The ministry confirmed that the evacuation plan is being implemented in close coordination with Kuwaiti embassies, expressing its deep appreciation for the facilities provided by the relevant authorities in Tehran and Ashgabat to ensure the safe return of Kuwaiti citizens. The ministry added it continues to exert efforts around the clock to guarantee the safe return of all Kuwaiti citizens from Iran, in coordination with its partners and other relevant agencies, to achieve this goal with the highest level of efficiency and responsibility. The ministry, led by Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya and his deputy, Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad, demonstrated high diplomatic readiness in managing the evacuation operations. The efforts of Assistant Foreign Minister for Asian Affairs Ambassador Samih Hayat and the Kuwaiti ambassadors in Tehran and Ankara complemented the work of embassy teams in ascertaining the safe and smooth passage of citizens and their return to the country amidst exceptional circumstances. Sources said other flights will be scheduled once the actual numbers are determined, and they will be executed in the same manner, especially since the airlines do not have a special route from Turkmenistan to Kuwait. Sources revealed that flight number 5006 was scheduled to arrive at 11:35 pm Friday, but it was postponed until 4:20 am on Saturday.

The evacuated citizens expressed their deep gratitude for the tremendous efforts exerted by the ministry, the Kuwaiti Embassy in Tehran and the diplomatic mission in Ashgabat; particularly the support and care they provided during the evacuation stages, starting with securing their exit by land from Tehran through Turkmen territory, and ending with their return by air to Kuwait. They pointed out that this rapid response and tight coordination reflect the concern of the State for its citizens under all circumstances. Moreover, Assistant Foreign Minister for Asian Affairs Ambassador Samih Hayat confirmed that the ministry has activated the approved emergency plans as per the directives of the political leadership to guarantee the safety of Kuwaiti citizens in Iran. In a television interview, Hayat stressed that the ministry is moving according to pre-prepared plans that are implemented based on the nature of challenges. He said coordination with the Council of Ministers and all relevant ministers is ongoing round the clock, while field reports are continuously submitted to monitor developments and make appropriate decisions at the appropriate time.

He added that the Kuwaiti embassies, especially the embassy in Tehran, operate with high efficiency, stressing that the diplomatic staff are trained to deal with difficult circumstances, including natural disasters, conflicts, and security emergencies. He confirmed the direct communication with the foreign ministries of friendly countries and effective cooperation with the ambassadors of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in the Iranian capital. He explained that the current evacuation plan takes into account the use of land routes due to the closure of Iranian airspace, emphasizing that the speed of transportation should not be at the expense of safety. He said coordination includes all the details to ensure the safety of citizens during their travel, indicating that Kuwait is open to cooperating with the United Nations and other international bodies to facilitate the evacuation process, reflecting the country’s active diplomacy and extensive relations with various countries around the world.

He stressed the importance of Kuwaiti citizens’ commitment to communicating with Kuwaiti embassies abroad and to providing them with accurate information upon entering any country. He said the ministry monitors all reports and communications through teams operating round the clock from the headquarters of the ministry and from the diplomatic missions. He asserted that Kuwait does not discriminate in its humanitarian treatment and also provides assistance to the citizens of other Gulf countries that do not have diplomatic missions in Tehran, in adherence to its established humanitarian principles.

He pointed out that “the unity of blood and common destiny among the GCC countries is the fundamental pillar from which the Gulf solidarity movement was launched. The liberation of Kuwait more than 35 years ago was the fruit of this solidarity and will remain a symbol of true Gulf unity. Gulf blood liberated Kuwait. Our blood has become one and our Gulf is one. We continue to follow this approach today, because experience has proven that overcoming exceptional circumstances at the regional or international levels can only be achieved through our unity.” He stated that the GCC institutions, specifically the disaster management centers, are witnessing intensified development and close coordination in the exchange of information, especially in sensitive fields like atomic and radiological information.

He added that this cooperation has become stronger and more integrated today. He expressed his satisfaction with the level of Gulf coordination, praising the role of His Excellency the Secretary General of the GCC Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi and his continuous communication with the senior political leaders of the GCC countries; in addition to the daily coordination between the ministries of foreign affairs and relevant authorities in the Gulf countries. He asserted that joint efforts among the GCC countries will continue until all dangers are eliminated and the region stabilizes, God willing. Kuwaiti Ambassador to Turkey Abdulaziz Al-Adwani confirmed that the ministry is continuing its tireless efforts to facilitate the return of Kuwaiti citizens from Iranian territory, in cooperation with relevant authorities in the country. Al-Adwani explained that there is effective coordination in preparation for the departure of the first flights to the homeland shortly.

He stressed that the ministry teams are closely monitoring the number of citizens and working hard to accurately count them. He called on Kuwaiti citizens wishing to evacuate to fully adhere to the bulletins and instructions issued by the ministry, and to communicate with the Communication Council team of the ministry, which works round the clock to respond to citizens’ inquiries and provide the necessary support, especially while they are in Turkmenistan, in preparation for their return to Kuwait. He added that the safety of citizens remains a top priority under these circumstances. Kuwaiti Ambassador to Iran Dr. Meshaal Al-Mansour confirmed that coordination is ongoing at the highest levels with Iranian authorities and neighboring countries, as part of a comprehensive plan to evacuate Kuwaiti citizens stranded in Iran due to recent developments.

By Fares Ghaleb
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff and Agencies