Seoul, June 24
A total of 150 South Korean nationals and their family members have evacuated Iran and Israel amid the escalating armed conflict between the two Middle Eastern nations, Seoul's foreign ministry said on Tuesday.
The government has provided support, including transportation and consular assistance, to help 56 people escape Iran to Turkmenistan, and 26 others to Jordan, ministry spokesperson Lee Jae-woong said in a press briefing.
Another 68 South Koreans and their family members have left Israel and taken shelter in Egypt over two separate operations, with the help of the Korean communities in both countries, news agency reported.
"We express our sincere gratitude to the governments of Turkmenistan, Jordan and Egypt for their warm solidarity, and we will work to ensure that this spirit of friendship and cooperation continues closely into the future," he said.
Earlier on June 23, forty-five South Koreans, including one with US nationality, had escaped Israel and safely arrived in neighbouring Egypt, amid heightening tensions from the armed conflict between Israel and Iran.
They had passed through the border via a land route on Monday afternoon (local time) by a government-chartered bus and were on their way to Cairo, the ministry said in a press release.