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Germany Begins Repatriation From Gulf as Regional Strikes Snarl Travel

Berlin is prioritizing vulnerable travelers after days of confusion over return plans.

Overview

  • The foreign ministry said the first government-chartered flight will depart Wednesday from Muscat, with further routes prepared via Riyadh for children, the sick, pregnant people and other high-need cases.
  • Emirates operated special services to Germany, with one flight landing in Frankfurt and another expected in Munich carrying around 200 TUI customers among other stranded passengers.
  • Roughly tens of thousands of Germans remain stuck across the Gulf, including about 2,500 passengers each on TUI’s Mein Schiff 5 in Doha and Mein Schiff 4 in Abu Dhabi, where disembarkation has been halted.
  • US Central Command reported using B-52 bombers in strikes and said more than 1,700 targets in Iran were hit in the first 72 hours, while Israel said it attacked a “hidden underground” nuclear-related site.
  • Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul faced criticism for inconsistent messaging and for misstating the timing of an official travel warning before later correcting the record.