The U.S. State Department announced Wednesday that more than 43,000 American citizens have safely returned to the United States from the Middle East since the conflict in Iran began.
“Under President Trump and Secretary Rubio’s leadership, the Department of State has completed more than three dozen charter flights and evacuated thousands of Americans from the Middle East,” Assistant Secretary Dylan Johnson said in a statement.
Johnson noted that commercial flight availability in the region continues to improve. The State Department will scale down its charter flights and ground transport operations as seats available on the Department’s charter options are significantly greater than the demand from Americans in the region, Johnson added.
On Wednesday, the Department of State contacted nearly 9,000 American citizens in the United Arab Emirates to offer U.S. government charter flights. “Those flights departed the UAE with available seats due to a lack of demand,” Johnson said.
“Most Americans who requested assistance have declined when offered, opting either to remain in their countries or book commercial flight options,” he added. Through the Department’s 24/7 Task Force, 30,000 Americans abroad were provided security guidance and travel assistance.
Johnson stated this would be the last daily update from the State Department on the evacuation efforts, citing “remarkable successes” and subsequent declining demand.
