Somali Embassy in Turkey Urges Citizens in Iran to Seek Evacuation Support Amid Rising Iran-Israel Tensions

By A Yusuf 

Ankara, Turkey, June 18, 2025 – The Somali Embassy in Turkey has issued an urgent appeal to Somali nationals currently residing in Iran, encouraging them to reach out for evacuation support amid escalating military tensions between Iran and Israel.

In a public statement posted on its official Facebook page, the embassy wrote:

“The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Somalia in Turkey informs Somali citizens in Iran who wish to leave the country due to the ongoing fighting there to contact the embassy for assistance in returning to their country safely. Mobile Number: +90 534 593 3990.”

The warning follows a surge in Israeli airstrikes on Iranian territory, which have reportedly targeted civilian neighborhoods, hospitals, arms factories, and critical government infrastructure. The growing conflict has sparked widespread concern among foreign nationals in Iran, including a small Somali community made up mostly of students and businesspeople.

Somali nationals have expressed mounting fears about their safety. Speaking to BBC Somali, Ahmed Mahmoud Abdi, a Somali businessman based in Iran, said the bombings have disrupted daily life and heightened anxiety within the community.

“People are feeling the pressure. Unlike other places where civilians flee immediately, here people are still staying, but the tension is clear,” he said. Ahmed also confirmed that a Somali medical student at Tehran University was injured in one of the recent strikes.

“He suffered a head injury, but his condition is stable. He had plans to travel to Azerbaijan, but we don’t know his current whereabouts,” Ahmed added.

In light of the escalating situation, Somali nationals have begun organizing discussions to assess the risks and explore evacuation options. According to Ahmed, efforts are underway to bring the community together and decide on a unified course of action.

The embassy’s call for evacuation highlights Somalia’s heightened concern for its citizens caught in global conflict zones and reaffirms its commitment to ensuring their safety and coordinated return home.

Nevertheless, Fathudin Ali Mohamed Ospite, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Somalia to the Republic of Turkey, played a key role in making this possible.

Since 2004, Ambassador Fathudin Ali Mohamed Ospite assumed his role as Somalia’s ambassador to Turkey, he has great jobs including role in enhancing diplomatic, economic, and cultural cooperation between the two nations. Under his leadership, the Somali Embassy in Ankara continues to promote mutual interests, support the Somali diaspora, and foster strong diplomatic ties based on shared values and mutual respect.