Related videos:
The United States government has launched a comprehensive operation to facilitate the departure of its citizens from the Middle East amid rising tensions and deteriorating security in several countries in the region.
The State Department reported this Wednesday that it is implementing “historic measures” to assist Americans who wish to leave the area and return to the United States.
According to the entity, in recent days more than 9,000 U.S. citizens have successfully left the Middle East and returned home safe and sound, including more than 300 who were in Israel.
As part of these efforts, Washington is facilitating charter flights from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan to evacuate U.S. citizens wishing to leave the region.
The State Department also indicated that commercial aviation options remain available in countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Egypt, and that authorities are assisting citizens in booking tickets for those flights.
For those located in areas where commercial flights are not available, the U.S. government is coordinating transfers to third countries from which it is possible to travel to the United States later.
Among these measures is also the increase in land transportation options for American citizens seeking to leave Israel for neighboring countries.
The State Department also noted that it has responded to calls from nearly 3,000 Americans in the Middle East who have requested assistance or information on how to leave the region.
U.S. authorities reported that, exceptionally, citizens will be exempt from any legal requirement to reimburse the government for travel expenses related to these evacuations.
Filed under: