Hungarian Defense Forces Evacuate Hundreds from the Middle East in “Operation Sand Rose”

The Hungarian Defense Forces have already transported over 480 people, including 385 Hungarian citizens, to Budapest from the war-torn Middle East. Between March 4 and 9, the Hungarian Air Force provided assistance to those stranded in the region with a total of eight evacuation flights in Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Oman. The successful operation is the result of effective cooperation between several units.

The Airbus A319 transport aircraft of the Hungarian Defense Forces’ 101st Air Brigade, named after Dezső Szentgyörgyi, took off from Kecskemét early in the morning on Wednesday, March 4, for its first evacuation mission. The destination was the Jordanian capital, more than 2,000 kilometers away.

Most of the passengers who arrived home from Amman early that evening had previously been in Israel, from where they traveled to neighboring Jordan, as Israel could only be left by land due to the complete airspace closure.

On Thursday, March 5, a Hungarian Airbus A319 also flew to Amman.

A day later, Hungarian and foreign citizens were transported from the Sinai Peninsula, from the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh, to Budapest by the Hungarian Defense Forces during an operation codenamed “Operation Sand Rose.”

On Saturday, March 7, it was the turn of Riyadh, located 3,500 kilometers from Hungary. Two planes arrived in the Saudi Arabian capital from Hungary that day to transport our compatriots who had requested consular protection back home. On Sunday, March 8, another plane returned to Riyadh, and then on Monday, March 9, Hungarian soldiers arrived in Oman, their fourth destination in six days, this time with two flights.

The Kecskemét Air Brigade staff performs its air clearance tasks – from organizing flights to preparing aircraft – with particular care and speed. However, successful execution requires continuous and coordinated activity in a number of specialist areas.

Soldiers from the Hungarian Defense Forces’ Special Operations Team were involved in planning and securing the operation.

The Hungarian Defense Forces Medical Center ensured that trained personnel are on board the Airbus A319 transport aircraft flying to the Middle East to provide medical care if necessary.

The rescue operation, which has been ongoing since March 4, proves once again that today’s modern Hungarian Defense Forces have the reconnaissance, operational, air transport, and military medical capabilities to come to the aid of Hungarian citizens wherever they are in the world. Defense Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky thanked Hungarian soldiers for their service and dedication on his social media page, along with the staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Via MTI; Featured photo: Honvédelem.hu

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