In response to the escalating tensions in the Middle East, Lithuania is making urgent preparations to evacuate its citizens from Israel, the head of the National Crisis Management Centre (NKVC) Vilmantas Vitkauskas, said on Friday.
According to Vitkauskas, initial estimates suggest around 200 Lithuanian citizens may be in Israel. The success of any evacuation effort will depend on the availability of airspace.
“Our embassy in Israel is working intensively to determine a more accurate figure and to register those who wish to leave. Of course, we are evaluating the options, including whether there will be flights from Israel or if alternative solutions will be needed, as we’ve done before using military aviation,” he explained.
Israel launched strikes against Iranian military facilities on Friday, with explosions reported in several regions of Iran, including the capital Tehran and a key uranium enrichment site. The attack has raised fears of a possible Iranian retaliation against Israel.
Vitkauskas said discussions are underway with Israeli authorities to identify safe “windows” during which evacuations could be carried out. However, he noted it remains unclear how many Lithuanians are currently seeking assistance.
“At the moment, the embassy in Tel Aviv is collecting the numbers, and once we have the numbers, we will be able to provide more detailed information. I cannot yet say how many have registered,” he added.
Given the risk of escalating military activity in the region, Lithuanian authorities are urging citizens in Israel to leave as soon as possible.
“If we see that evacuation is not possible via regular means, the state will do everything it can to evacuate citizens to a safe country as quickly as possible,” Vitkauskas said.
The Foreign Ministry reiterated the warning in a statement released on Friday, urging all Lithuanian citizens to refrain from travelling to Israel and to leave Iran immediately.
It also called on citizens currently in Iran, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Palestine, and other parts of the Middle East to remain extremely vigilant, follow local news and guidance from Lithuanian embassies, and adhere to all safety instructions issued by local authorities.
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