Belgium to repatriate 185 citizens from Oman as Middle East tensions continue
A Belgian military repatriation flight is expected to leave Muscat, in Oman, on Saturday with 185 Belgian citizens on board. The announcement was made on Friday by Foreign Affairs minister Maxime Prevot.
The plane currently flying to Europe is operating under the Luxembourg flag and already has 18 Belgians on board. After arriving in Europe, it will switch to the Belgian flag and fly back to Muscat to collect the larger group.
The 185 Belgians are travelling by bus from the United Arab Emirates to Oman. In Muscat, they will be received by four staff members from Belgium’s Foreign Affairs department and the Belgian honorary consul.
There had been confusion earlier in the day about the flight schedule. Defence minister Theo Francken had said the first flight would depart on Friday and dismissed reports of a delay as “fake news”. However, Prevot later confirmed the plan had changed and the departure is now expected on Saturday.
According to the Foreign Affairs ministry, the unstable situation in the Middle East makes last-minute changes unavoidable. Flight routes, departure times and permits can all change quickly as many countries organise evacuations at the same time.
Belgium is also considering direct repatriation flights from the United Arab Emirates and is closely monitoring the situation in Lebanon after Israel issued an evacuation order there.
When the US-Israeli operation in Iran began, about 2,450 Belgian travellers were stranded in the region. Prevot said returning everyone would take time.
“I understand how stressful the wait is for those there and for their families in Belgium,” he said. “We are doing everything possible to bring you home.”
Foreign Affairs minister Maxime Prevot © BELGA PHOTO EMILE WINDAL