More than 43,000 U.S. citizens in the Middle East have returned safely to the United States since Feb. 28, when the Iran conflict began, Dylan Johnson, assistant secretary of state for global public affairs, said in a March 10 post on X.
“The State Department has directly assisted nearly 30,000 Americans through our 24/7 task force,” Johnson said.
The individuals were provided with security guidance and travel assistance, the assistant secretary said in a March 10 statement, noting that the department will continue to assist any American who wishes to leave the Middle East.
However, most Americans who requested assistance eventually declined help when offered, according to the statement. These individuals chose to either remain in the Middle East or book convenient commercial flight options.
“While commercial flight availability across the region continues to improve, Department of State charter flights and ground transport operations continue to operate,” Johnson said.
“At this time, seats available on the department’s charter options are significantly greater than the demand from Americans in the region. … State Department charter flights continue to operate with less than 40 percent occupancy on average.”
The department has so far completed more than two dozen charter flights, according to the statement. Johnson advised Americans in the Middle East who need assistance to get in touch with the State Department at 1-202-501-4444.
Saudi Security Alert
In a March 10 security alert, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Saudi Arabia said commercial flights were currently operating out of Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam. Although the country’s airspace remains open, there are “significant flight cancellations and prolonged operational delays,” the alert reads.
“Americans should strongly consider departing on one of these flights if they believe it is safe to do so,” the alert states. “If you choose not to depart via commercial options, you should be prepared to shelter in place in a secure location within your residence or another safe building. Have a supply of food, water, medications, and other essential items.
“We are tracking reports of threats against locations where American citizens gather. We advise U.S. citizens that hotels and other gathering points may be potential targets.”
According to the alert, the State Department is coordinating flights out of the region and can accommodate Americans who have filled out the crisis intake form online. The U.S. Embassy and Consulates has suspended all routine consular services temporarily.
Saudi Arabia has been a target of Iranian attacks. In an X post on March 9, the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a warning to Tehran after an Iranian strike killed two Bangladeshi nationals in the country.
“[The government condemns the] Iranian attacks against the Kingdom and the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council, as well as a number of Arab, Islamic, and friendly countries, which cannot be accepted or justified under any circumstances,” the ministry said.
“The Kingdom affirms that it retains its full right to take all necessary measures to safeguard its security, sovereignty, and the safety of its citizens and residents, and to deter aggression.”
On March 10, Iran launched a new wave of drone and missile attacks against several nations, with Saudi Arabia reporting having intercepted several drones in its territory. Two drones were destroyed in the eastern region and another one east of the Al-Kharj Governorate by the country’s air defenses, the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Defense said in X posts.
The U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs has issued multiple updates about the transportation situation in various other Middle East countries.
In another X post, the bureau said that Jordan’s Queen Alia International Airport has become operational, with commercial flights taking off.
As for Qatar, the U.S. Embassy in Doha is offering overland and air options for Americans to leave the country.
“Limited commercial flights are currently operating out of Qatar,” the bureau said. “You can contact Qatar Airways, if you flew with them. There are overland routes to Saudi Arabia where commercial options are available to depart the region.”
In the United Arab Emirates, an increasing number of commercial flights are operating out of international airports, according to a March 10 X post by the bureau.
“Seats on commercial flights from Abu Dhabi and Dubai are available now for travel as early as March 10 to multiple U.S. and European cities, although some flights may be canceled with little notice,” the post reads.
In Kuwait, commercial flights are currently not operating because of the threat of missile and unmanned aerial vehicle attacks.
War Situation
The U.S. and Israeli forces launched coordinated strikes against the Iranian regime on Feb. 28 under Operation Epic Fury. The war entered its 11th day on March 10.
According to the U.S. Central Command, the United States has struck more than 5,000 targets across Iran since the operation began. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth told reporters that the United States was winning the conflict with an “overwhelming and unrelenting focus on [its] objectives.”
On March 10, the Pentagon said roughly 140 service members have been wounded in the war so far. Seven service members have died.
Democrats have expressed discontent with the conflict. After a closed-door military and intelligence briefing on March 10, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said that he left the meeting feeling “more dissatisfied and angry” than he has felt leaving any other briefing in his 15 years in the Senate.
“We seem to be on a path toward deploying American troops on the ground in Iran to accomplish any of the potential objectives here,” Blumenthal said.
When asked about Blumenthal’s remarks, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump “does not rule options out as commander in chief.”
Leavitt cautioned against taking at face value “anything that a Democrat on Capitol Hill says right now about the president’s thinking.”
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