TNI Ready To Help Evacuate Indonesian Citizens From Iran And Israel Conflict Areas

JAKARTA - The Indonesian National Army (TNI) has expressed full readiness to support the efforts of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia in evacuating Indonesian citizens (WNI) from conflict-affected areas in Iran and Israel. This step is part of the TNI's commitment to carrying out its state duties, especially in the field of humanitarian assistance and protection of Indonesian citizens.

TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto has instructed the ranks to coordinate closely with relevant ministries and institutions to ensure the smooth evacuation process, starting from planning to implementation in the field. The TNI has also alerted the supporting elements needed according to the development of the situation and needs of the government.

In a statement delivered in Cilangkap, East Jakarta, Thursday, June 19, 2025, the Head of the Indonesian Armed Forces Information Center (Kapuspen) Maj. Gen. Kristomei Sianturi emphasized that protecting Indonesian citizens abroad is a form of state presence to ensure the safety of Indonesian citizens wherever they are and state the readiness of the TNI to help evacuate Indonesian citizens from Iran and Israel.

"Protecting Indonesian citizens abroad is a tangible manifestation of the state's presence in an emergency situation. In accordance with Article 7 paragraph (2) of Law Number 3 of 2025 concerning Amendments to Law Number 34 of 2004 concerning the TNI, which reads that it helps in protecting and saving citizens and national interests abroad. The TNI is ready to carry out this task with full responsibility, in order to protect the people, not only domestically, but also in the midst of international conflicts," he said.

Based on data from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there are a total of 578 Indonesian citizens in both countries, consisting of 386 people in Iran and 192 people in Israel. Of these, 115 Indonesian citizens in Iran and 11 Indonesian citizens in Israel have expressed their willingness to be evacuated. Most of them are students and students who live in areas that are currently categorized as vulnerable.

The plan to evacuate Indonesian citizens (WNI) from Iran and Israel will involve the Crisis Response Team (CRT) consisting of 34 joint TNI personnel, Departure is scheduled for Friday, June 20, 2025, to Baku with an estimated journey of about 30 hours. Arriving in Baku, Indonesian citizens will transit for two nights before continuing flights back to the country by commercial aircraft on Sunday, June 22, 2025. Meanwhile, the evacuation of Indonesian citizens from Israel is planned to be via Amman (Yordania), before departing by air.

As part of a professional, adaptive, and responsive state defense system, the TNI always prioritizes cross-agency synergies, both at home and abroad, to ensure the safety and security of all Indonesian citizens in conflict areas. The TNI emphasized that the protection of Indonesian citizens, both at home and abroad, is part of the constitutional tasks carried out, and will continue to be carried out optimally within the framework of national interests.