ZAGREB, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia announced on Tuesday that it will repatriate citizens stranded in the Middle East via charter flights.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry, there are over 3,000 Croatian citizens currently in the Middle East, though the actual figure may be higher due to tourism. According to earlier reports, approximately 10 citizens and one official remain in Iran, following the prior evacuation of the embassy in Tehran.
The Ministry reiterated its call for all Croatian citizens in crisis-affected areas to exercise extreme caution and strictly adhere to local directives. They are advised to remain indoors, minimize movement, avoid public gatherings, and monitor official updates closely. Furthermore, the Ministry strongly discourages all travel to the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Israel.
On Saturday morning, joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Tehran and other Iranian cities killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with some of the leader's family members, senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded through several waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. bases across the Middle East.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday the military campaign against Iran has "capability to go far longer" than four to five weeks. ■
