Israel began flying home citizens stranded abroad on Wednesday, launching a phased airlift operation after the country's surprise military strike on Iran left tens of thousands of Israelis stuck overseas.

The Iran-Israel conflict has reshaped Washington, uniting hawks and pro-Israel Democrats, while MAGA and progressives oppose U.S. involvement.

Israel stunned Iran last week with an intelligence and military operation years in the making that struck high-level targets with precision.

In Germany, many expatriates welcomed signs the Islamic regime is weakening but doubted Israel’s motives and feared for relatives back home.

The government has also asked citizens to delete WhatsApp, and plans to shut off access to the global internet.

Israel claimed to have killed a top Iranian general as it traded more strikes with its longtime foe, and U.S. President Donald Trump warned residents of Tehran to evacuate while suggesting that the Un

Israel has inflicted heavy damage on Iran. Officials say at least 224 people have been killed in Israel’s air offensive and hundreds others wounded. On Monday, Israel ordered a neighborhood home to over 300,000 people in Tehran, the Iranian capital, to evacuate ahead of an expected bombing campaign.

In Lebanon, which is still reeling from last year’s war between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group, videos making the rounds on social media have shown revelers dancing and drinking on rooftops while projectiles flash across the sky in the background.