KAPIKOY BORDER CROSSING, Turkiye: A land crossing near eastern Turkiye’s Van province is one of the few routes connecting Iranians to the rest of the world amid an airspace shutdown in Iran since the US and Israel launched strikes on Tehran over a week ago, triggering war in the Middle East.
Most travelers at the border gate in recent days had connections with Turkiye through work, family, and friends, and many had moved up preplanned visits because of the war. Some had residency or citizenship in a third country and were transiting through Turkiye.
Only a small number of Iranians interviewed at the Kapikoy crossing said they planned to stay in Turkiye to escape the war for an indefinite period.
Reza Gol, a 38-year-old plastic surgeon, said the war was not the only reason for his trip. He was traveling from Urmia in western Iran to see patients in Istanbul, where he used to live.
Only a small number of Iranians interviewed at the Kapikoy crossing said they planned to stay in Turkiye to escape the war.
