New York, US_ More than 32,000 US citizens have returned safely to the United States from the Middle East since Feb. 28 as part of a large-scale consular assistance operation amid the war with Iran, Deputy Secretary of State Dylan Johnson said Sunday.
In a statement, Johnson said the State Department has carried out “nearly two dozen charter flights” so far, evacuating thousands of Americans from the region.
He said the total number of US citizens who have left the region could be higher. “These figures do not include the many Americans who have safely relocated to other countries or those who have departed the Middle East but are still in transit back to the United States.”
Although the availability of commercial flights in the region has begun to improve, the US government said it is maintaining and expanding charter flights and ground transportation operations, as security conditions allow.
Through a task force operating around the clock, the State Department has provided direct assistance to more than 19,000 US citizens abroad, offering services ranging from security guidance to travel logistics.
Johnson said more than half of the Americans who initially requested help leaving the region ultimately declined the transportation options offered by the US government once they were contacted. According to the State Department, many choose to remain in the country where they are or prefer to arrange private travel.
The US government also urged its citizens in Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Israel who need travel assistance to complete the crisis registration form.
“The State Department will continue to actively assist any American citizen who wishes to depart the Middle East to do so,” Johnson said.
The US and Israel are currently at war with Iran, a conflict that began Feb. 28 and has led to the death of several Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
In the first week of US attacks, more than 3,000 targets in Iran were struck, according to the US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Friday.
Iranian authorities say at least 1,332 civilians have been killed in the strikes, while Iranian attacks on Israel have left at least 10 people dead.