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| ▲ This Reuters photo captures an Iranian missile flying toward Israel in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on March 3, 2026. (Yonhap) |
S Koreans-Israel evacuation
About 60 S. Koreans in Israel evacuated to Egypt as Middle East conflict widens
By Kim Seung-yeon
SEOUL, March 4 (Yonhap) -- Around 60 South Koreans in Israel have been evacuated by land to Egypt to seek shelter, according to the foreign ministry Wednesday, as U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran spiral into a broader Middle East conflict involving neighboring countries.
Sixty-two South Korean nationals and four ethnic Koreans with U.S. citizenship left Jerusalem or Tel Aviv on Tuesday morning (local time) aboard a chartered bus arranged by the South Korean Embassy in Israel and headed for the Egyptian border, the ministry said.
Another 47 Korean travelers or short-term visa holders joined the group of Koreans at the border and moved into Egypt, according to the ministry.
The evacuation came after Iran launched missiles at Israel following U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Tehran.
Israel has since hit back with simultaneous strikes on Iran and the Iran-aligned militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon.
A Seoul official said the evacuation was arranged at the request of those who had expressed their intention to leave Israel.
Some 600 South Koreans, including roughly 100 short-term visitors, had been in Israel prior to the evacuation, the official said.
"We will consider a range of measures if there is additional demand," he said.
A government rapid response team, consisting of embassy and foreign ministry officials, has been dispatched to assist the evacuees en route to Cairo.
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