U.S. citizens hoping to evacuate the Middle East amid the war with Iran on Tuesday received an automated message on the State Department hotline saying Washington could not assist them.
“Please do not rely on the U.S. government for assisted departure or evacuation at this time,” the message said. “There are currently no United States evacuation points.”
That message was reportedly updated late Tuesday to include that the U.S. is committed to helping Americans evacuate the region. The Trump administration told reporters Tuesday that it was considering using charter flights and military aircraft to evacuate U.S. citizens.
The State Department has placed a Level 3 travel advisory on Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Israel, meaning Americans should “reconsider travel.” Iran, Yemen, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon are under Level 4 “Do Not Travel” designations.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that he remains confident the administration can assist every American requesting aid in the Middle East, though airway closures made the situation difficult.
“We have identified and continue to identify charter flights, military flight options, and expanded commercial flight options, meaning working with the airlines to send bigger airplanes with more seats,” Mr. Rubio said, noting that at least 1,500 U.S. citizens had reached out for assistance.
Estimates suggest that at least 1 million American citizens are in the Middle East. The State Department said Tuesday that more than 9,000 U.S. citizens had evacuated the region over the past week.
Despite the administration’s efforts, U.S. citizens and lawmakers have expressed frustration over the thousands of Americans stuck in the region as Iran launches hundreds of missiles and drones daily.
Sen. Mark R. Warner, Virginia Democrat, told reporters Tuesday that his office had received calls from dozens of Americans in the UAE, Qatar, Iraq and Israel who were unable to leave the region. He accused the administration of providing “zero evacuation support” to stranded Americans.
Amid the heightened danger, some have shelled out hefty sums for private charter flights out of the region. Some estimates suggest that private jets traveling from airports in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to Europe could cost more than $350,000.
Several high-volume airports have closed due to attacks by Iranian missiles and drones. Dubai International Airport, normally the world’s busiest international airport, was shut down for two days following the outbreak of war on Feb. 28 and reopened with limited operations on March 2.
