EU considers response as countries prepare limited evacuations

The Czech Republic is preparing limited evacuation flights from the Middle East, with prime minister Andrej Babiš confirming three planes: two from Sharm El-Sheikh and one from Amman. Foreign minister Petr Macinka said the first plane could take off from Prague within the next two hours pending final clearances.

Czech airline Smartwings is expected to run four flights from Moskat and Salalah in Oman to Prague, Bratislava and Warsaw. More than 3,500 Czechs have registered for evacuation from the UAE, with about 900 in Oman, hundreds in Jordan and Israel, and around 100 in Saudi Arabia.

Slovakia is arranging a flight from Aqaba that could also pick up some Czech tourists, though prime minister Robert Fico warned further evacuations may be difficult because of airspace closures. Authorities in Cyprus ordered the evacuation of the Akrotiri municipal district and Paphos airport, and advised residents in another area to limit unnecessary movements.

Czech Republic, Middle East

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