Rescue operation of the last Greeks trapped Khartoum.

According to K, the C-130 aircraft of the Air Force landed at an air base north of Khartoum, where Greeks and other citizens boarded, and is already on its way to our country.

In particular, the plane landed at the Wadi Saidna base at about 1300 and took off an hour later.

A statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: “The plane has already safely entered Egyptian airspace with 39 people on board, of which 20 are Greek citizens and their families.”

According to the ministry, with the completion of this operation, “the number of released our compatriots and members of their families is 125 people.”

Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

A Hellenic Air Force C-130 took off this morning from Khartoum as part of an operation to free Greek citizens from Sudan.

The plane has already safely entered Egyptian airspace, with 39 people on board, 20 of whom are Greek citizens and their families.

The rest of those released are citizens of other EU Member States as well as third countries.

A Greek diplomatic representative also participates in the mission.

Air Force planes are expected to arrive in Athens tonight.

With the completion of this operation, the number of released compatriots and members of their families reaches 125 people.

“Evacuation and rescue operation completed”

GEETHA issued an announcement for the release of Greek and foreign nationals from Sudan. As he notes, from Sunday, April 23, to Wednesday, April 26, four operations were carried out.

“On Sunday, April 23, 2023, the Mission for the Liberation and Rescue of Greek and Foreign Citizens from Sudan started from Greece. The Greek Armed Forces, within the framework of the instructions of the Greek Government and in close cooperation and coordination with the competent state authorities, have made a decisive and absolute success in the national efforts for the rescue and safe return to Greece of both Greek citizens. and citizens from friendly and allied countries, with the assistance of operational facilities and specialized personnel.

The mission was led by the Deputy Minister of National Defense, Mr. Nikolaos Hardalias, and was also attended by the Director of the Sub-Saharan Africa Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Konstantinos Soulios, as well as the Deputy Commander Brigadier General, Inter-Services Special Operations Command (DDEE), Charalambos Georgiou, in as head of the Special Operations Department of the newly created GEETHA Special Operations Command (DEP). During the de-escalation operations, the Mission liaised with the National Operations Center (ETHKEPIX) of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Crisis Management Unit (CMU) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On Thursday, April 27, 2023, a C-130 A/F took off from Aswan Airport in Egypt with GEETHA Faculty Special Operations (SOF) personnel heading to Wadi Seidna Air Base north of Khartoum in Sudan. With the landing of the V/F at the air base, the SSO section began to control and ensure security in a wider area, at the same time, we assisted in the rescue and landing of 39 citizens, of which 20 were from Greece, 1 from Germany. , 4 from Spain, 5 from the Netherlands, 1 from Serbia, 8 from the Philippines, and 6 pets (dogs). After that, the plane flew to the Elefsina airbase. The evacuation and rescue operation was monitored and directed live from the Greek Ministry of Defense by the Deputy Minister of National Defense, Mr. Nikolaos Hardalias, and the Commander of the General Defense Forces, General Konstantinos Floros.

In the overall context of the Mission for the Liberation and Rescue of Greek and Foreign Citizens, the following individual operations have also been carried out since the beginning of the crisis in Sudan:

• On Sunday, April 23, 2023, 2 transport aircraft (A/F), 1 Air Force C-27 and 1 C-130 depart from Elefsina Air Base to Aswan Airport, ready for evacuation operations.
• On Monday 24 April 2023, a C-27 A/F took off from Aswan for Djibouti, receiving the first 17 citizens (13 Greeks and 4 other spouses of Greek citizens) and returning on Tuesday 25 April 2023 to Elefsina Air Base .
• On Tuesday, April 25, 2023, another C-27 A/F took off from Elefsina Air Base and landed in Aswan, ready for the mission. Then take off and pick up from Djibouti and Aqaba, Jordan, 16 Greek citizens, 1 from Cyprus, 9 from Romania and 8 from Finland. On Wednesday, April 26, 2023, the Air Force, with the Deputy Minister of National Defense and the rescued civilians, returned to Tanagra Air Base.
• On Wednesday, April 26, 2023, another C-27 A/F takes off from Elefsina Air Base and lands in Aswan, ready for the mission.

From the military side, the evacuation and rescue operation has been completed.”