First wave of Europeans stranded by Iran conflict return home, with hundreds of thousands still left in region – Europe live | Europe
Morning opening: How to get out of there?
Yakup Krupa
The first wave of European travelers stranded by conflict in the Middle East returned home overnight, also grabbing seats on the few remaining flights out of the region.
British, Czech, Italian and Polish media reported the first successful returns from Oman and the United Arab Emirates Only a few carriers later managed to take off and leave the affected area.
Hundreds of thousands of people are believed to still be in the area While countries are accelerating their evacuation plans, many continue to advise them to stay put until the situation improves.
European Commission in question Late on Monday he was working on “increasing support to Member States”. evacuation and return efforts.”
You can expect more details to emerge soon, but the increasingly complex and challenging security situation in the region doesn’t make it any easier.
Separately, France promises to send missile and drone defense systems to Cyprus The Cyprus News Agency said it occurred after a British air base on the island was attacked by drones. Greece had previously sent four F-16 fighter jets and two frigates to help defend the island.
Later today, our attention will shift to the USA German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is expected to be at the White House for his long-awaited meeting with the US president. Donald Trump.
We have a lot to overcome.
His Tuesday, March 3, 2026, his Yakup Krupa here and this Europe Live.
Good morning.
important events
Italian defense minister apologizes for trip to Dubai that left him stranded in the early hours of the war
The family of the Italian defense minister, who was shamefully stranded in Dubai in the early hours of the war, returned to Italy last night on a return flight to Rome Fiumicino airport, according to local media reports.
As we reported yesterday, Guido Crosetto returned on Sunday on the Italian state flight. This led to further criticism as he was evacuated alone while hundreds of other Italians were trapped in Dubai.
To prevent further reactions, He left his family in Dubai and returned alone. He said he paid for the flight out of his own pocket. “I paid three times that much with my own money” He stated that he had to go to Dubai for “personal reasons”.
His family returned to Italy last nightOman joins more than 120 tourists flying from Corriere della Sera reported.
Meanwhile, Crosetto blushed as he was questioned in parliament Corriere spoke about his trip to Dubai and its timing, eventually apologizing for his poor judgment. in question.
Opposition MPs also argued that his wrongful capture in Dubai meant: Italy was not told about US plans to attack Iran. Despite Prime Minister Meloni’s close relationship with the US president, Donald Trump.
But it turns out that Crosetto He wasn’t the only EU minister stuck in Dubai with the Czech sports minister Boris Šťastný was stranded in the Gulf a complicated return journey last night.
Greek defense minister visits Cyprus amid calls for reinforcements
Greek defense minister Nikos Dendias is in Cyprus today, following the Greek government’s decision to send reinforcements to help protect the island.
Last night, 4 Greek F-16s arrived in Cyprus. to be at the station Andreas Papanderous Paphos In addition to the base, two frigates are also believed to be on the way.
He will meet with the president of Cyprus Nikos Kristodoulides and later with his Cypriot counterpart Vasilis Palmas.
France also announced that it would send anti-missile and anti-drone systems. in cyprus It was reported that more assistance was requested from germanyLocal media report that a decision is expected “soon.”
Spain reasserts its right to defend its sovereignty and international law after refusing to allow the US to use Spanish bases for attacks on Iran
Sam Jones
in madrid
The Spanish government appears to be reacting to some of Israel’s overnight criticism for not allowing the United States to use joint bases in southern Spain to launch attacks on Iran.
Oscar López, Spain’s digital transformation minister and former private secretary to Pedro Sánchez insisted: Spain is a “serious country” and a reliable NATO member.
Speaking to reporters in Barcelona on Tuesday morning, López said: “Spain is a serious country and a reliable partner and It is also a country that loves international law and peace..”
According to the report of the Spanish news agency Efe, the minister said that Spain’s stance on the Iranian attack is very clear. “Spain, of course, exercises its sovereignty and defends international law and rules-based order,” he said.
On the question of evacuating Spanish citizens currently stranded in the Middle East, López said:The government was in constant contact with embassies in the regionHe added that his goal was to be able to “gradually evacuate citizens depending on how the airspace reopens.”
Israel criticizes Spaniard Sánchez for not allowing the US to use Spanish military bases to attack Iran
Sam Jones
in madrid
Israel hit back at the Spanish government’s refusal to allow the United States to use jointly operated military bases on its territory to attack Iran, accusing Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez of being on the wrong side of history.
Sánchez publicly condemns US and Israeli attacks “Unilateral military action” Against Iran, he warned that Iran was contributing to a “more hostile and uncertain international order.” There were scoldings Strengthened by his government’s refusal to allow the US to use the bases in Rota and Morón due to ongoing attacks against Iran.
In a post published on X on Monday evening, Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar accused Sánchez, who has been a harsh critic of Israel’s war in Gaza, of pandering to terrorists and oppressive regimes.
“First Hamas thanked Sánchez,” Sa’ar wrote. “Then the Houthis thanked Sánchez. Now Iran thanks him. Is this being on the ‘right side’ of history?”
Sa’ar also retweeted the US Republican senator’s criticism of Sánchez Lindsey Grahamwho wrote:
“The current government in Spain is becoming the gold standard of woefully weak European leadership that has lost its moral way, is apparently reluctant to condemn the terrorist regime in Iran, and has nothing but criticisms of the United States.”
On Saturday, Sánchez said: Donald Trump And Benjamin Netanyahu’s The attack was making the world less stable and called for a permanent political solution to the conflict.
He returned to this subject in his speech in Barcelona on Sunday.
“Today, it is more vital than ever to remember that you can be against a hateful regime (Spanish society is a whole when it comes to the Iranian regime) and at the same time against an unjust and dangerous military intervention that lies outside international law,” he said.
Morning opening: How to get out of there?
Yakup Krupa
The first wave of European travelers stranded by conflict in the Middle East returned home overnight, also grabbing seats on the few remaining flights out of the region.
British, Czech, Italian and Polish media reported the first successful returns from Oman and the United Arab Emirates Only a few carriers later managed to take off and leave the affected area.
Hundreds of thousands of people are believed to still be in the area While countries are accelerating their evacuation plans, many continue to advise them to stay put until the situation improves.
European Commission in question Late on Monday he was working on “increasing support to Member States”. evacuation and return efforts.”
You can expect more details to emerge soon, but the increasingly complex and challenging security situation in the region doesn’t make it any easier.
Separately, France promises to send missile and drone defense systems to Cyprus The Cyprus News Agency said it occurred after a British air base on the island was attacked by drones. Greece had previously sent four F-16 fighter jets and two frigates to help defend the island.
Later today, our attention will shift to the USA German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is expected to be at the White House for his long-awaited meeting with the US president. Donald Trump.
There’s a lot for us.
His Tuesday, March 3, 2026 his Yakup Krupa here and this Europe Live.
Good morning.
