Citizens who requested repatriation from Israel are set to arrive in Portugal this Thursday, announced the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today.
An official statement indicates that the TAP flight is expected to land at the Figo Maduro Military Airport in Lisbon around 6:30 p.m.
The Secretary of State for Communities, Emídio Sousa, is expected to be present to welcome them.
“The final stage of the repatriation operation, initiated and coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for Portuguese citizens from Israel, is currently underway,” the statement reads.
On Monday, Portugal had already evacuated its citizens from Iran and was conducting a repatriation operation in Israel in response to 130 repatriation requests recorded by that day.
Paulo Rangel highlighted the “more complex” situation in Iran. “Yesterday [Sunday], four Portuguese citizens were evacuated to Azerbaijan by our means, by land. Meanwhile, one individual had already left via Turkey, leaving three other expatriates who possess the means to return home independently,” he detailed.
“Then, the second most complex situation involves the citizens in Israel. We received 130 repatriation requests, primarily from citizens in transit, tourism, or work-related situations who suddenly found themselves without flights,” the minister elaborated.
During a press conference, Rangel stated, “An operation to bring them to Portugal has already begun,” acknowledging “greater risks” due to “long road journeys involved.”
At least 34 Portuguese tourists visiting ancient Persia in Iran landed in Lisbon at 3:08 p.m. on Tuesday.
Portuguese citizens residing in Israel and Iran are safe, said a source from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Lusa today, noting they are “closely monitoring the situation” following the conflict outbreak since last Friday.
More than 400 European Union citizens from countries such as Slovakia, Lithuania, Greece, and Poland were evacuated from Israel following the closure of Israeli airspace.
More than 400 EU citizens from countries like Slovakia, Lithuania, Greece, and Poland were evacuated from Israel due to Israeli airspace closure amid regional tensions, with flights supported by the European Commission.
The war between Israel and Iran erupted in the early hours of June 13 following Israeli bombings of Iranian military and nuclear facilities, resulting in the deaths of military leaders, scientists, and civilians.
The casualties include at least 15 senior officials, confirmed by Tehran, such as the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, General Mohamad Hossein Baqari, the Chief Commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Hossein Salami, and the Head of the Revolutionary Guard’s Aerospace Force, General Amir Ali Hajizadeh.
Iran retaliated with hundreds of missiles against Israel.
The conflict has resulted in dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries on both sides.
