226 citizens safely evacuated from Lebanon in inaugural flights

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs swiftly executed its plan to evacuate citizens from Lebanon, with the first Kuwait Airways flight number 504 arriving at dawn today, Sunday, carrying 226 passengers, as reported by Al Rai newspaper.

A number of citizens arriving from Beirut expressed their gratitude and pride in the efforts of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs, particularly the Kuwaiti Embassy in Lebanon, for their communication and concern for citizens in Beirut who wish to return, anticipating developments in regional events. They explained that they responded to the government’s call due to their concern for safety.

‘Al-Rai’ was present at T4 Airport, receiving citizens returning from Lebanon. Citizen Fahd Al-Azmi stated, “My friend and I were visiting Lebanon and arrived in Beirut on Saturday for summer vacation. As soon as the Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced, the embassy contacted us via messages. We messaged them, expressing our desire to return to Kuwait. They changed our travel tickets and stayed in contact until the plane departed. We told them, ‘You’ve excelled in your service.’ It was a quick trip, less than 24 hours, but our safety is paramount.”

Citizen Khaled Al-Shalimi expressed his gratitude, saying, “I’d like to thank the political leadership, the Kuwaiti government, and our embassy in Beirut for reaching out and sending messages to us citizens in Beirut. The embassy and airlines were diligent in keeping us informed about our return, and we responded to the call. My flight was initially scheduled for two days later, but I chose to adhere to the warning issued by our Foreign Ministry. Their national, legal, and moral role in caring for Kuwaiti citizens is commendable and unsurprising to us.”

Khaled Al-Majed expressed, “Honestly, things in Beirut are manageable, but we citizens were eager to return promptly as the situation could escalate anytime, making it challenging for us to come back. I urge citizens in Beirut to follow instructions. The Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry, despite the absence of large aircraft for returnees, maintained communication through phone calls, texts, and media announcements. It’s crucial to follow instructions responsibly.”