A growing number of Iranians and foreign nationals are crossing into Armenia through Agarak checkpoint, the sole operational border checkpoint between the two countries, fleeing intensified hostilities between Israel and Iran.
Eyewitnesses report long queues of families and individuals carrying heavy luggage, their faces marked by exhaustion and anxiety. Many have left relatives behind, uncertain of when or if, they can return.
Aliteza Shaker Nia was forced to leave his 80-year-old ailing mother behind in Shiraz as he fled with his family to Armenia, planning to return to Norway, where he lives. He was on a two-week vacation in Iran when everything changed in an instant.
Fab Barzi, an Iranian-Canadian, had just got married, but was forced to leave his wife, who stayed behind with her family. Barzi fled the bombings in Tehran and is now making his way back to Canada through Armenia.
"It's a very bad situation now everywhere actually. The flights are coming and they're attacking with the bombs in the different spots. So that's why you you're not actually safe there," he said.
The Chinese Embassy in Yerevan has assisted over 600 Chinese nationals, including tourists, business personnel and students, in evacuating from Iran since the conflict began.
Shanghai resident Paul Li recounted seeing missiles mid-flight during his trip.
"We were traveling in Iran, Bandar Abbas, in cities like Yazd, like Esfahan, some cities. We saw bombs and missiles flying in the sky. And the situation came to an emergency, we [saw] we should leave Iran. We are planning on traveling, keep traveling in Armenia," said Li.
Mehgri Mayor Khachtur Andreasyan confirmed most arrivals are third-country nationals, with only 30 percent being Iranian citizens, primarily those with existing Armenian business or family ties. These are not refugees but people with established connections, he emphasized.
Armenian authorities have yet to release official border crossing statistics, but local observers note daily increases in arrivals. The single border post, normally processing tourists, now faces unprecedented humanitarian traffic as regional tensions escalate.
Hundreds of Iranians, foreign nationals flee to Armenia amid worsening Israel-Iran conflict
Hundreds of Iranians, foreign nationals flee to Armenia amid worsening Israel-Iran conflict
A major port in northern Venezuela came under U.S. airstrikes in the early hours of January 3, which caused extensive damage to civilian infrastructure, destroyed critical medical supplies in a warehouse, and severely impacted centuries-old cultural heritage sites, according to local residents.
The La Guaira Port, a vital hub for imports that support daily life in the region, was heavily damaged during the attack.
Large quantities of medical supplies stored at the port were destroyed. A historic cultural building dating back for some 300 years was also badly damaged by the bombardment.
Residents living near the port recalled the terrifying scenes as explosions shook nearby neighborhoods.
Humberto Bolivar, who lives in a community separated from the port by only a main road, said the blast waves shattered his home's windows, while stray shrapnel struck the water tank on his roof. According to reports, three missiles were fired at the port that night.
Bolivar said that beyond material losses, he is most concerned about the psychological impact on his children, who remain too frightened to leave their home days after the attack.
"The United States invaded our country. The children were frightened. This is not good for them, because it leaves some children with psychological trauma. They do not want to go to school or leave the house, because they are afraid that something worse might happen. We truly do not want this to happen to our country," he said.
Apart from civilian facilities, local cultural heritage site was also affected.
The La Guaira state government building, a structure with nearly 300 years of history and once served as the site of Venezuela's first national customs office, was struck by the force of the explosions.
Windows of the building were shattered, and furniture scattered across the floor.
"As people of La Guaira, we feel deep pain. Our cultural heritage has been bombed. We are living in constant anxiety and suffering, and life can no longer be the same as it was before," said a local named Henry Cumares.
The U.S. side has claimed the airstrikes targeted warehouses allegedly used to store narcotics. However, locals refuted such accusation.
"According to what Donald Trump said, they bombed this place using the excuse that the warehouses here were used to store drugs at the port. But based on the video released by our governor, these warehouses that were burned contained medicine for kidney patients and foods. Many people depend on these supplies to survive. I think the bombing is extremely despicable," said a local resident named Alejandro Capriles.
US strike hits Venezuelan port, wrecking medical supplies, heritage building
