FM: Thousands of Bosnian citizens in Gulf states amid escalation, authorities preparing evacuation scenarios

According to Konakovic, there is justified concern, but authorities remain in constant communication with diplomatic partners and Bosnian representatives on the ground.

“There is great concern, but we are closely monitoring the situation and planning next steps together with our partners and friendly countries that have diplomatic representatives there. This morning we also contacted our ambassador in Tehran and discussed the possible evacuation of the remaining part of our staff,” Konakovic said.

He noted that the situation in Gulf countries is further complicated by the closure of airspace, which currently prevents air evacuations.

“In the Gulf countries, we are monitoring the situation, but the main problem is that the airspace is closed. Flights are not operating at the moment, and even if we wanted to and there was a need, we would not be able to intervene or act today,” the minister explained.

As an alternative, authorities are considering land evacuation routes, particularly through Saudi Arabia, although this would require overcoming significant administrative obstacles.

“Those who would leave by land via Saudi Arabia would require a large number of visas, and we would have to secure them. We are prepared to do so if necessary,” Konakovic added.

He emphasized that the Foreign Ministry has prior experience handling crisis evacuations, including operations from Gaza and other conflict zones.

“Unfortunately, we have had similar experiences before with evacuations from Gaza and other hotspots. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is ready for any type of intervention if needed,” he said.

For now, Konakovic stressed that the priority remains maintaining communication with Bosnian citizens in the region and ensuring they receive timely information.

“At this stage, our focus is on regular communication and informing our citizens. Those who have not yet established contact with our embassies are advised to do so as soon as possible,” he said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina said it will continue monitoring the situation and coordinating with partner countries to ensure the safety of its citizens in the region, as tensions continue to rise.