The national government confirmed that 248 Argentine citizens managed to return to the country from the United Arab Emirates amid the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, which caused massive flight cancellations and left hundreds of people stranded in the region. Foreign Minister Pablo Kirno reported through his X account that the operation was carried out through diplomatic efforts by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with the Argentine embassy and consulate in that country, in coordination with airlines and local authorities to facilitate the departure of compatriots affected by the crisis. According to the official, 248 of the 416 Argentines identified in the United Arab Emirates have already been able to leave that country, which represents nearly 60% of the total number of citizens who had been stranded due to flight restrictions caused by the conflict in the region. Authorities explained that the operation was carried out in a context of high logistical complexity, due to the intermittent opening of airspace and the cancellation of numerous commercial flights in the Middle East. In this context, it was decided to prioritize the evacuation of minors and people with health problems, according to the Argentine News Agency. The return of Argentines was made possible by the partial resumption of some air routes and the scheduling of commercial flights connecting Dubai with South America, usually with a previous stop in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro before arriving in Buenos Aires. From the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they indicated that the work to assist Argentine citizens who remain in the region will continue in the coming days, as there are still compatriots seeking to leave the United Arab Emirates and other countries affected by the escalation of the conflict. In this regard, Kirno assured that there are more flights scheduled and that the Government maintains permanent contact with Argentines in the Middle East to facilitate their return 'as quickly and safely as possible'.
