By Khaled Badr

ISTANBUL (AA) - Iraqi Airways announced early Sunday the start of operations to evacuate Iraqi citizens stranded abroad and return them to the country amid the regional escalation linked to the ongoing Israel-US war on Iran and Tehran's military response.

According to a statement by the airline cited by the Iraqi News Agency, special flights have begun to evacuate Iraqi nationals stranded overseas.

One of the national carrier’s aircraft departed from Ankara Esenboga International Airport heading to Cairo International Airport to evacuate Iraqi passengers stranded in Egypt.

The airline said the evacuees will then be transported to Saudi Arabia's northern city of Arar through what it described as an “exceptional air bridge.”

From there, they will be transferred by land through the Arar Border Crossing to reach the Iraqi territory.

Since Feb. 28, Israel and the US have been carrying out military attacks on Iran that have killed around 1,300 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several security officials, while Tehran has responded with missile and drone strikes toward Israel.

Iran has also targeted what it describes as US interests in several Arab countries, causing casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure, actions that have been condemned by the affected states.