US sends planes to evacuate nationals from Middle East as Iran conflict spreads
US Sends Planes to Evacuate Nationals Amid Escalating Iran Conflict
The United States has launched charter flights to repatriate citizens from the Middle East as the conflict between Iran and its allies intensifies. The State Department issued a Monday alert advising Americans in Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the occupied West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen to “depart immediately” due to heightened security threats.
Since the US and Israel began targeting Iran on Saturday, several regional flights have been halted or postponed. In response, Iran launched missiles and drones at allied nations, heightening concerns for safety. The State Department emphasized its efforts to arrange military transport and charter missions for those seeking to leave the area, stating it has been in direct communication with nearly 3,000 Americans overseas.
Travelers Face Uncertainty and Delays
American traveler Krista Jucknath Hickman described her trip through the region as turning into “chaos” after the advisory. She and her spouse spent the night at Dubai Airport before shifting to Oman. “The orders are not realistic, not supportive,” Hickman told the BBC, adding that the department’s support line failed to provide clear guidance despite two attempts to contact them.
“The number provided by the State Department for support is unable to help. I called twice. Both times I was told there are no evacuation procedures in place.”
Other citizens reported either staying in their locations or seeking alternative routes out of the region. With approximately 500,000 to 1 million US nationals estimated to be in the Middle East, exact figures remain unclear as Americans are not mandated to register with authorities abroad.
International Responses and Support
France announced readiness to assist at-risk citizens by deploying both commercial and military flights. Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot noted that around 400,000 French nationals are in the region. Meanwhile, the UK urged its citizens to register with the government to ensure prompt aid, with Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stating that about 300,000 Britons are currently present in the Middle East.
Starmer called for immediate registration, highlighting that many trapped individuals are holidaymakers, transit passengers, or business travelers. The UK has historically used such systems during crises, but the scale of this situation is described as unprecedented. The US embassy in Jerusalem confirmed it cannot evacuate Americans from Israel at this time, though it mentioned Israel began operating shuttles to the Taba Border Crossing with Egypt.
With additional reporting from Sakshi Venkatraman. If it is safe to do so, you can also get in touch by following this link.
