The Czech government is preparing to send repatriation flights to Egypt for Czech citizens currently in Israel, as regional airspace closures make direct evacuation impossible.

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš announced the plan on the social network X on Sunday, saying Prague is ready to act immediately if conditions allow.

Because Israeli airspace remains closed, evacuees would first need to travel overland by bus to Egypt, where Czech aircraft could collect them.

The government will assess further steps at a meeting of the State Security Council scheduled for Monday morning.

Air evacuation through other regional hubs is not an option. Airspace over the United Arab Emirates, Oman and several other Middle Eastern countries has also been shut, complicating efforts to move civilians out of the region.

Foreign Minister Petr Macinka confirmed that aircraft are on standby should evacuation be required. He added that Prague is coordinating its approach with the Slovak government.

The security situation deteriorated after Israel and the United States launched military strikes against Iran early Saturday. U.S. President Donald Trump said the operation aimed to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

Iran responded with missile attacks targeting Israel and several Arab states, including countries hosting U.S. military bases. Tehran signaled that further retaliation could follow, while Washington warned of a forceful response if attacks continue.

Iranian state media later reported the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to Reuters.

Macinka said he expects the military operation to expand and possibly last several weeks. He advised Czech citizens to avoid travel to the region.

Registrations in the Drozd system have increased sharply in recent days. By Saturday evening, around 2,500 Czechs had registered their presence in the United Arab Emirates.

Hundreds were listed in Israel, Jordan and Qatar, while dozens were recorded in Kuwait, Lebanon and Bahrain. Three Czech nationals were registered in Iran.

Under Czech law, travel agencies are required to assist clients stranded abroad for up to three days. Individual travelers are advised to follow updates from airlines regarding the reopening of airspace. The Foreign Ministry has also activated its emergency hotline at +420 222 420 222.

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