How countries are racing to evacuate citizens from escalating Israel-Iran conflict

Governments around the world are evacuating thousands of their nationals caught up in the rapidly spiralling Israel-Iran conflict, organising buses and planes and in some cases assisting people crossing borders on foot.

Foreigners have rushed to leave both countries after Israel launched an unprecedented bombing campaign on Friday, June 20, targeting Iran's nuclear and military facilities, sparking retaliation from Tehran.

With Israel's airspace closed and the two countries exchanging heavy missile fire, many people are being evacuated via neighbouring countries.

European countries have already repatriated hundreds of their citizens from Israel. The Czech Republic and Slovakia repatriated 181 people, who were bussed to a neighbouring country and crossed the border on foot, the Czech defence ministry said.

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Germany scheduled flights for Wednesday and Thursday via Jordan, while Poland said the first of its citizens would also arrive back on Wednesday. Italian nationals were being offered a charter flight on Sunday from Israel to Egypt and then Italy, with non-refundable reservations set at 500 euros ($575) per adult. Greece said it had repatriated 105 citizens plus a number of foreign nationals via Egypt, while a private plane with 148 people landed in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, on Tuesday.

Hungary evacuated 21 citizens from Iran via Azerbaijan, mainly diplomats and their families, officials said. Bulgaria repatriated 17, and Slovenia two diplomats and their families.