Lithuanian citizens in Israel will be evacuated by land after the country’s airspace was closed, the head of Lithuania’s National Crisis Management Centre (NKVC) Vilmantas Vitkauskas said on Monday.
“The security situation in Israel remains tense and complex, and its airspace is closed. Therefore, today we made the decision to use an alternative route to evacuate citizens – by land,” Vitkauskas told reporters.
According to the plan, evacuees will travel from Tel Aviv to border crossings with Jordan or Egypt, and from there be flown out, most likely on a chartered flight from the Aqaba airport in Jordan. The exact route is still being coordinated.
Vitkauskas noted that some of the individuals who had registered for evacuation opted out upon learning it would be overland, citing safety concerns.
The distance from Tel Aviv to the nearest border is around 350 kilometres – roughly a four-hour drive. The bus transporting evacuees will be accompanied by a security element from the Lithuanian Embassy in Tel Aviv, the departure is planned for Tuesday.
Lithuanian authorities are also awaiting permission for a military aircraft to land in Egypt as a backup option.
According to NKVC, 125 people have registered for evacuation, including 27 foreign nationals with ties to Lithuania.
“We urge those who haven’t registered yet to take advantage of this opportunity, as there may not be another chance,” said Vitkauskas, adding that it was still unclear whether evacuees would have to cover any costs.
He also confirmed that there is currently no information about Lithuanian citizens stranded in Iran or injured in the ongoing conflict.
According to the crisis centre chief, the situation on the ground is deteriorating, and prospects for reopening the Israeli airspace in the near future “are rather bleak”.
While waiting for a window to evacuate, the embassy is staying in close contact with Lithuanians in Israel, keeping them updated on the security situation and the evacuation process, Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys told BNS on Sunday.
"Lithuania does not abandon its citizens in distress. The safety of every Lithuanian is our top priority," he said.
Lithuania’s Armed Forces confirmed on Sunday that Israeli airspace remains closed due to continued missile strikes between Israel and Iran. However, several Lithuanian institutions coordinating with foreign partners to prepare alternative evacuation plans.
Vitkauskas said Lithuania is working with several countries on this, with Germany being the most involved.
The evacuation comes amid a dramatic escalation in hostilities between Israel and Iran, now in their third day of exchanging direct strikes – raising international fears that decades of regional tension could erupt into full-scale war.
Israel launched the first strike against Iran on Friday, targeting nuclear and military sites as well as senior commanders, saying it aimed to thwart Iran’s alleged efforts to develop a nuclear weapon. Some Israeli strikes also hit residential areas.
Iran, which continues to claim its nuclear program is for civilian use, responded with its own missile attacks on Israel.
Updated to reflect new information on Lithuania’s evacuation plans from Israel.
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