Over 600 people have fled to Azerbaijan from Iran, source says
BAKU, June 17 (Reuters) - More than 600 people of 17 nationalities have fled into Azerbaijan from Iran in the five days since the start of the air war between Israel and Iran, an Azerbaijani source with knowledge of the situation said on Tuesday.
The source said they included citizens of Russia, the United States, Germany, Spain, Italy, Serbia, Romania, Portugal, China, Vietnam, the United Arab Emirates, Georgia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Azerbaijan has kept land borders closed since the COVID-19 pandemic, but it allowed the foreigners to enter via a "humanitarian corridor" crossing at Astara in its southeast corner.
The source said people were being taken by bus to the capital Baku to catch flights to home countries.
A man from the United States, who did not give his name, told Azerbaijani state TV: "There are long lines at gas stations and a fuel shortage. Everywhere you go, there are big queues – it's very frightening. I still can't believe I managed to cross the border."
Nazim Beishekeyev, a citizen of Kyrgyzstan, said he was one of 28 people from the Central Asian state who entered Azerbaijan after queuing for eight hours at the border. He thanked the authorities for providing food and medical help.
An Azerbaijani news agency, Report, said 26 Chinese nationals had crossed.
Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran last Friday. Tehran has responded with missile and drone attacks.
U.S. President Donald Trump warned residents of Tehran on Monday to evacuate immediately. From Tehran to the crossing into Azerbaijan is a road journey of about eight hours.
The Kremlin thanked Azerbaijan on Tuesday for helping Russian citizens leave Iran.
"Our Azerbaijani friends are providing all the most favourable conditions, for which we are very grateful to them," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
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