First Thai evacuees leave Bahrain as Middle East crisis widens

Nine Thai nationals from Bahrain left Saudi Arabia for Bangkok yesterday, becoming the first group of evacuees as the Middle East crisis grows.

On March 4, the group travelled from Bahrain’s capital, Manama, across the Saudi-Bahrain border via the King Fahd Causeway to reach King Fahd International Airport in Dammam.

They then flew to King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh to catch a connecting flight back to Thailand. Their journey was facilitated by the Thai Embassy in Riyadh.

Meanwhile, Panidone Pachimsawat, the Foreign Ministry’s deputy spokesperson, said hostilities in the region are ongoing.

Israel continued to strike multiple areas in Iran yesterday, as well as Beirut and locations in southern Lebanon, resulting in more than people being 58,000 displaced, numerous fatalities and hundreds of injuries. The Lebanese government has advised civilians to seek shelter immediately.

Panidone said in a press briefing that ASEAN foreign ministers have issued a statement expressing deep concern over the escalating violence and its impacts on civilian lives, as well as on regional and global peace and security.

The grouping called on all parties to cease hostilities, exercise restraint, resolve disputes peacefully and respect international law, including the United Nations Charter.

The bloc also reaffirmed its commitment to providing humanitarian assistance.

There have been no reports of Thai nationals being injured or killed so far, he said, but the overall situation remains fragile. The ministry is urging Thais in affected areas to follow official updates closely and to comply with local advisories strictly.

Thai embassies and consulates-general remain available around the clock to assist in case of emergency.

The Thai Embassy in Tehran has scheduled two evacuation rounds, on March 7th and March 10th. Registration for the first round closes on March 5, while registration for the second round ends on March 8.

He said 138 people, mostly students and workers, have registered so far and the embassy is coordinating documentation and issuing emergency passports where necessary.

In the United Arab Emirates, the Thai embassy in Abu Dhabi has assisted 63 stranded Thais, all but one of whom have already returned to Thailand.

In Dubai, 30 students, teachers and parents have travelled home on Emirates flights.

In Qatar, airspace closures have prevented commercial flights and some areas remain targets of attack by Iran.

The embassy has contacted 43 of 46 Thai nationals in the country and deployed officials to assist them. Most are reported to be in good spirits and efforts are underway to arrange flights for those wishing to leave.

In Jordan, two of 13 stranded Thais have departed, while the remaining 11, along with one Thai tourist who crossed from Israel, are scheduled to return on March 7.

In Iraq, two Thais have left via Turkey. Twenty others remain in Baghdad and Karbala and have indicated they will stay for now to monitor the situation. If airspace remains closed, they may travel overland to Turkey.

Thai missions in Oman and Yemen have also provided assistance to nationals in need.

Panidone cautioned that misinformation has circulated amid the volatile situation, including a false claim that Thailand had signed an Indo-Pacific cooperation treaty allowing the United States to use the country as a military base.

He stressed that the report is untrue and that “Thailand has a clear policy of calling for conflicts to be resolved as quickly as possible because we are concerned about the safety of our people. We urge the public to verify information from official sources before sharing it, to prevent misunderstanding about Thailand’s policy and position.”