On the 15th of the month, South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the evacuation of 211 individuals, including two Japanese citizens, from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, due to heightened tensions surrounding the situation in Iran. The military transport aircraft departed South Korea on the morning of the 14th and landed in Riyadh the same afternoon. The group consisted of 204 South Koreans, two Japanese, and five foreign nationals from other countries, all of whom departed Riyadh later that evening.

The operation was dubbed 'Desert Light' and is part of South Korea's strategic measures to ensure the safety of its citizens abroad amid regional instability. This evacuation follows a similar initiative by the Japanese government, which organized a charter flight to evacuate its nationals from Riyadh earlier in the month, also including 11 South Koreans on board. Both countries have established a memorandum of understanding that outlines their cooperation in protecting each other's nationals in third countries, highlighting the importance of bilateral relations in crisis management.

As tensions in the Middle East continue to rise, this evacuation underscores the need for countries in the region to collaborate on security and emergency responses. The coordination between Japan and South Korea during this crisis reflects their commitment to safeguarding their citizens and maintaining strong diplomatic ties, which could be crucial in future regional developments.