European Commissioner Hadja Lahbib has announced that Slovakia, Austria, and Italy are the first countries to request financial assistance from Brussels to evacuate citizens from the Middle East. This aid comes under the EU's civil protection mechanism, which allows member states to receive reimbursement for a significant portion of the costs incurred in such efforts. Slovakia has already arranged two flights, while Austria has requested seats for 90 passengers, and Italy is assessing the best way to evacuate its citizens.

The need for these evacuations has arisen due to the ongoing military actions in the region, particularly the attacks initiated by the United States and Israel against Iran, which were followed by Iranian counterattacks on Gulf states and Israel. These developments have led to widespread airspace closures and significant disruptions to flights; from Saturday to Monday, there were over 12,900 flight cancellations, representing about 40 percent of scheduled flights, as reported by aviation data analysis firm Cirium.

Although some airlines resumed limited services on Tuesday, the situation remains precarious, and many countries are expected to activate the EU's civil protection mechanism in the coming days for further evacuations. The ongoing conflict underlines the fragility of the regional security landscape, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation in ensuring the safety of citizens caught in conflict zones.