"Explosions Rocked Us": 91 Greeks Evacuated from UAE War Zone Arrive Safely in Athens

09:08 6/3/2026 - Πηγή: iEfimerida

Ninety-one Greek citizens, including members of a professional basketball team, have landed safely at a military air base near Athens after being evacuated from the escalating conflict in the United Arab Emirates.

The military

C-130 transport aircraft touched down at the Eleusis air base, bringing an emotional end to a harrowing ordeal for the stranded citizens. 

The urgent repatriation flight was jointly coordinated by the Greek Foreign and Defense ministries to rescue civilians from Abu Dhabi as the Middle East plunges further into chaos following the recent assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Among the evacuees were 13 individuals affiliated with the Aris basketball squad. 

Anxious relatives tearfully embraced the passengers on the tarmac. Many returnees recounted terrifying moments sheltering from the violent fallout of regional strikes.

"Explosions rocked us; we huddled in bunkers," evacuee Giorgos Karagiannis told reporters upon arrival. 

"You hear it, you live it. We are just glad to be back safe. I will never go anywhere like that again," Mr. Karagiannis added.

Another passenger, Eleni Vlachou, expressed deep gratitude to the diplomatic corps after the grueling journey. 

"We departed at 1 a.m. and we are exhausted, but deeply moved," Mrs. Vlachou told the state broadcaster ERT. "The local coordination was solid—a flawless joint operation by Athens and the UAE mission."

Greek authorities indicated that further evacuation flights are actively being considered as the security situation across the Persian Gulf and Eastern Mediterranean rapidly deteriorates.

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Explosions Rocked Us, 91 Greeks Evacuated,UAE War Zone Arrive Safely, Athens