Yemi Olakitan
A ship carrying more than 1,500 Israeli citizens stranded abroad due to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran has safely docked at Ashdod Port, the Israeli military announced Friday.
The vessel, which departed from the Port of Limassol in Cyprus, is the first in a series of planned sea evacuations under the Israeli Ministry of Transportation’s emergency repatriation plan, dubbed Operation ‘Safe Return’.
“The ship was secured during its journey by an Israeli Navy missile boat,” the military said in a statement released to the media, confirming the passengers’ safe arrival despite ongoing regional security concerns.
The evacuation mission follows Israel’s June 13 airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites, which triggered a near-total shutdown of Israeli airspace. All commercial flights were grounded, stranding an estimated 100,000 to 150,000 Israelis overseas.
Transport Minister Miri Regev said the government had begun a coordinated airlift earlier in the week. “Roughly 5,000 Israelis returned on special flights Wednesday and Thursday, and we expect to double that number today,” she said. Israel’s national carrier, El Al, has been operating additional flights from destinations across Europe, the United States, and Asia to support the repatriation effort.
The arrival of the sea convoy underscores the scale and urgency of the evacuation effort, as tensions continue to rise across the Middle East. Defense analysts say the military escort of the passenger ship reflects the government’s concern over potential threats during the voyage.
Operation ‘Safe Return’ is expected to continue over the coming days with more vessels and aircraft mobilized to bring citizens back home.
