By Charles Pemu 
BAKU/YEREVAN – More than 700 foreign nationals have crossed from Iran into neighboring Azerbaijan and Armenia since Israel commenced military strikes on Iranian targets last Friday, officials confirmed on Tuesday. This mass movement of people underscores the escalating regional tensions that have seen both nations exchange deadly fire for five consecutive days.
A government source in Baku revealed that over 600 citizens from 17 countries have been evacuated via Azerbaijan, crossing through the Astara checkpoint. These evacuees, including nationals from Russia, Germany, the United States, China, and various European and Central Asian nations, are being flown home from Baku airport. Azerbaijan has temporarily reopened its land borders, previously shut due to the Covid-19 pandemic, to facilitate these critical evacuations.
Simultaneously, Armenia has assisted in the transit of 110 Indian citizens, as confirmed by Yerevan’s foreign ministry spokeswoman, Ani Badalyan. Poland has also announced plans to evacuate non-essential embassy staff from Tehran via Azerbaijan, while Turkmenistan has facilitated the transit of approximately 120 individuals, primarily Central Asian citizens, through its territory.
The crisis stems from Israel’s “unprecedented strikes” on Iran, which it states are aimed at preventing Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon—a claim Iran refutes. In retaliation, Iran has launched barrages of missiles and drones at Israel. The conflict has resulted in significant casualties on both sides, with reports indicating over 220 fatalities in Iran and more than 20 in Israel. Global leaders, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, have called for an immediate de-escalation, urging peace and diplomacy to prevail as fears of a wider regional war mount.