The Ministry for Foreign Affairs states that there is great uncertainty regarding the development and the possibility of using civilian flight capacity in the future. If more assisted departures from the region are deemed necessary, the Armed Forces will now be able to transport Swedes and others from Israel and Jordan to Cyprus. From Cyprus, they can travel onwards with commercial flights to Sweden.
The Armed Forces state that transport resources from the Air Force have been sent to Rhodes to assist Swedes and other citizens in leaving Israel and Jordan if needed. If a decision is made to fly into Israel and Jordan, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs will lead the operation with support from the Armed Forces.
– The situation in the region is extremely serious, and it is difficult to assess the development. However, to have the best possible situational awareness in the planning work, we maintain an ongoing dialogue with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, our Nordic neighbours, and various partners, says Lieutenant General Carl-Johan Edström, who is the head of operations management at the Headquarters and former Chief of the Air Force, in the Armed Forces' press release.
Airbase rangers from the 25th Airbase Ranger Company from F 17 will provide additional support to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs personnel during the air transports, according to the authority.
— It is an active and good cooperation between all parties that allows us to ensure continued good preparedness and create the room for manoeuvre we need to offer support to Swedes in the region at short notice in a situation where uncertainty is increasing, says Foreign Minister Tobias Billström to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.