PARIS, June 23, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - France is to send military A400M aircraft to Israel to fly out any of its citizens who wish to leave for Cyprus, the foreign and defence ministries said Sunday.

The flights will be carried out subject to Israel's clearance and will supplement the chartered civilian flights already operating, the ministries added.

France has some 250,000 of its citizens in Israel -- around 100,00 registered on consular lists.

Earlier Sunday, 160 French nationals -- most of them vulnerable or in urgent situations -- were flown to Paris from Jordan accompanied by a doctor.

"Two more flights are coming, and starting tomorrow, our military planes will be engaged," wrote French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on his X account.

"It went really, really well, so we're glad to arrive. But we are also thinking of our families, for the most part," Herve Berrebi, one of the passengers, told media.

"We hope for some peace, a little, for all communities regardless of who they are."

A crisis team at the foreign ministry has received more than 4,500 phone calls over the last week.

More flights will follow, said the ministry.