The United States government is trying to help its citizens leave the Middle East as fighting in the region becomes more dangerous. The conflict has grown after military strikes involving Israel and Iran. Because of the rising violence, American officials are warning people that it may not be safe to stay.
The US is arranging special charter flights to take Americans out of countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. The US State Department has warned Americans in several countries to leave as soon as possible because of “serious safety risks.”
The warning includes people in Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, the West Bank, Gaza, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Syria, and Yemen. However, many regular flights in and out of these places have been cancelled. The delay has made it harder for people to leave.
Iran has fired missiles and drones toward countries in the region that are friendly with the US in retaliation to its attack. Because of this, tensions are high, and there are fears the conflict could spread further.
The State Department says it is working to arrange military planes and private flights for Americans who want to return home. A department spokesperson, Dylan Johnson, said officials have been in direct contact with nearly 3,000 Americans in the region. He urged people to call emergency hotlines if they need help.
Officials also said that about 9,000 Americans have already returned safely. In places where airports are still open, the government is helping citizens book available seats on commercial flights.
Some travelers say the situation has been confusing and stressful. One American woman told the BBC that her holiday plans quickly turned into chaos after the warning was issued. She had to stay overnight at an airport and is now trying to cross into another country by road because she could not find clear instructions.
The US Embassy in Jerusalem says it is not currently able to organise evacuations from Israel. It also announced that it would close temporarily. Later, it said that Israel had started running buses to the Taba border crossing, which connects to Egypt, but the embassy did not officially advise people to use that route.
Other countries are also preparing to help their citizens. France said it is ready to bring home those most at risk. If necessary, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot informed BFM TV that they could utilise both military and regular flights.
In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Keir Starmer asked British citizens in the region to register their location so the government can support them. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said many of those affected are tourists, business travelers, or people passing through airports.
Hundreds of thousands of foreign nationals are believed to be living across the Middle East. As the fighting continues, governments are urging their citizens to stay alert, follow official advice, and prepare to leave quickly if necessary.
