▲ South Korean nationals and embassy officials prepare to leave Israel in an evacuation operation on March 3, 2026, in this photo provided by the foreign ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

(LEAD) S Koreans-Israel evacuation

(LEAD) About 140 S. Koreans evacuated from Iran, Israel as Middle East conflict widens

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES throughout; CHANGES photo)

By Kim Seung-yeon

SEOUL, March 4 (Yonhap) -- About 140 South Koreans have been evacuated from Iran, Israel and other neighboring nations, the foreign ministry said Wednesday, as U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran spiral into a broader regional conflict involving other Middle Eastern countries.

A total of 113 people, including 47 short-term travelers, left Jerusalem and Tel Aviv on Tuesday (local time) via a land route and safely arrived in Egypt later that day, the ministry said. They later traveled to Cairo.

Those residing in Israel traveled to the border aboard a chartered bus arranged by the South Korean Embassy, while others on short-term stays joined the group at the border checkpoints later.

Twenty-three South Korean nationals left Tehran early Monday and crossed the eastern land border into Turkmenistan the following day, the ministry said. They were on their way to Ashgabat and are expected to return home or depart for a third destination.

Two South Koreans left Bahrain and moved to Saudi Arabia. Two others from Iraq evacuated to Turkey.

The evacuation came as the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran have been escalating into a wider regional conflict, with neighboring countries like Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Lebanon joining the fray, alongside their respective allies.

Iran has launched missiles at Israel, with Israel hitting back with simultaneous strikes on Iran and the Iran-aligned militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The evacuations were arranged at the request of those who had expressed their intention to leave the countries, a ministry official said.

"We will consider a range of measures if there is additional demand," he said.

Among those evacuated from Iran were South Korean coach Lee Do-hee for the Iranian women's national team and Lee Ki-je, a South Korean defender playing for Mes Rafsanjan FC.

Others included embassy officials and their families, as well as ethnic Koreans holding other nationalities and a few Iranians related to Korean nationals.

Some 600 South Koreans, including roughly 100 short-term visitors, had been in Israel prior to the evacuation. Around 40 other South Koreans currently remain in Iran.

Seoul officials said the government is not considering pulling out embassy personnel at this stage.

Government rapid response teams, consisting of embassy and foreign ministry officials, have been dispatched to assist the evacuees.

(END)

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]