The military strikes that commenced on Saturday, along with Iran’s counterattacks on neighboring countries, have resulted in extensive airspace closures, obstructing busy flight paths across the area and leaving many individuals stranded.
The department, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, shared on Wednesday that the inaugural US government charter flight has departed from the region to the U.S., providing limited details.
“Under @SecRubio’s direction, Department of State charter flight and ground transportation efforts are in progress and will continue to increase with more flights and ground transport occurring today,” Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs Dylan Johnson stated in a post on X on Thursday.
It remains unclear from which countries the charter flights will be originating.
American citizens currently in Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Israel are advised to complete a crisis intake form to obtain information about forthcoming flights and transportation options, Johnson noted. He also highlighted that a new task force has assisted over 10,000 Americans with support since the onset of the crisis.
Initially, the State Department had only issued alerts to U.S. citizens in Israel and Lebanon as tensions escalated, but Iran’s actions have begun to target U.S. missions and civilian infrastructure in various locations, including Gulf Arab nations that are significant transport hubs.
Following the start of the conflict, US security alerts were dispatched to Americans in Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Qatar, and Bahrain. On Monday, the US advised Americans across 14 countries in the Middle East to leave the area immediately using “available commercial transportation,” without presenting U.S.-government-approved alternatives, prompting frustration among U.S. lawmakers.
