JOHANNESBURG, March 1 (Xinhua) -- A South African government official said on Sunday that evacuating citizens from the Middle East is currently impossible, citing widespread airspace closures across the region for security reasons.

"It is impossible to move in or out of those countries. We are in touch with South Africans using various communication platforms," said Clayson Monyela, deputy director-general of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO). In a statement posted on X, he added that "various interventions and options are being explored."

The massive air travel disruption, which has forced the cancellation of thousands of flights, was triggered after the United States and Israel launched intensive airstrikes against Iran on Saturday morning.

As tensions escalated, several countries, including Israel, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, and Bahrain, have announced either full or partial closures of their airspace. Consequently, dozens of international and regional airlines have suspended their services.

According to DIRCO, South African citizens currently in the Middle East must wait for the reopening of airspace or land borders before they can travel home. Monyela told local media that the government is closely monitoring the situation for any opportunity to assist its citizens as soon as conditions allow.

In a recent advisory published on X, DIRCO urged all South African citizens currently in the region to contact their respective embassies. This is to ensure they are formally registered and that their whereabouts are known to diplomatic missions. ■