Baghdad: Over 70 South Korean corporate workers stationed in Iraq have been successfully evacuated due to escalating tensions in the Middle East, as confirmed by the foreign ministry on Tuesday. These evacuations occurred over the past two weeks amid heightened concerns over safety in the region.

According to Yonhap News Agency, a total of 72 workers departed Iraq for neighboring countries between March 18 and Monday. This movement was facilitated on the recommendation of the South Korean Embassy in Iraq, with embassy personnel playing an instrumental role in the evacuation process. Among these evacuees, 12 individuals sought refuge in nearby countries, such as Kuwait and Turkey, as the security situation deteriorated.

The South Korean Embassy in Iraq, along with its consulate in Erbil, has maintained constant communication with Korean nationals, urging them to exit Iraq. This advisory comes as the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran continues to expand across the Middle East. Since the late February initiation of strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran, approximately 1,500 South Koreans have been evacuated from the region, bolstered by the support of the ministry.