The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) has reported that thousands of Afghan nationals are returning to Afghanistan from Iran each day as the country faces ongoing US-Israel attacks. In an interview with Al Jazeera from the Afghanistan-Iran border, UNHCR’s Afghanistan representative Arafat Jamal said approximately 2,000 Afghans are crossing the border daily to return home.

Jamal explained that many of those leaving cited the war situation in Iran as their main reason for departure, though no targeted problems against Afghans have been reported so far. Since the beginning of the year, around 110,000 Afghans have left Iran, including long-term residents and migrant workers. He added that fear of potential bombings, economic weakness, and job shortages are also driving factors behind the mass return.

Jamal cautioned that many of these returnees are “fleeing one war only to return to another,” as Afghanistan currently faces heightened tensions with neighboring Pakistan. He noted that for many, there are no good options available.