by Christos Zabounis

The question was raised during a late-night broadcast on the French channel BFM TV, referring to the fate of Westerners stranded in the Gulf countries. It was prompted by the announcement of the U.S. State Department, which called on American citizens to evacuate 14 countries in the Middle East. Alas, it is not the only country urging its resident or visiting nationals to leave the following states: Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. To our surprise, we read that Ukraine has undertaken a similar initiative. Having some awareness of the people distressed by the Russian invasion who left their country in search of a safer environment, one wonders how many of them would wish to return to a war zone – although exceptions will certainly exist. Greece, with its characteristic tendency toward exaggeration, is daily discovering – through live broadcasts – its own “victims” of the conflict. Tears and lamentations from Dubai influencers, but also sorrow at the sight of serious young professionals who were forced to emigrate to the Gulf during the financial crisis. Not a few analysts argue that the Memoranda were “our” war, from which we emerged defeated. The Iranians are expected to meet the same fate, however steadfast their resistance may be.

P.S. Since Saturday, February 28, when operations began, the airspace of the Persian Gulf states has been closed, with 12,000 flights to and from the region canceled so far.