Taiwan helps 14 Taiwanese in Israel leave via land

Taipei, June 15 (CNA) Taiwan's government has helped 14 Taiwanese citizens previously in Israel leave the Middle Eastern country by land after Israel's airspace was closed to civilian air traffic following recent escalations with Iran.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said the 14 Taiwanese left Israel and arrived in Jordan early Sunday by a bus arranged by Taiwan's representative office in Israel.

Taiwan's representative office in Jordan is now helping the Taiwan nationals return home, MOFA said in a press release.

Meanwhile, MOFA said it is in close contact with 9 Taiwanese citizens currently in Iran and will do its best to help if any of them wish to leave the country.

MOFA has since Friday raised its travel warning to an orange alert, advising Taiwan nationals to avoid traveling to Israel unless absolutely necessary. Also on Friday, MOFA raised the alert for Iran to the highest red alert level, urging Taiwanese nationals in the Islamic country to leave as soon as possible.

Under MOFA's four-color travel alert system, the lowest level is gray, followed by yellow, orange and red.

The travel warnings were issued after Israel launched an airstrike against Iran, targeting the Iranian nuclear program, key government figures and nuclear scientists, killing at least 80 people and wounding 800 others over the past two days, according to a report in Al Jazeera.

Iran subsequently launched retaliatory airstrikes and tensions continue to escalate between the two countries.