Related videos:
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, that the United States has assisted approximately 9,000 American citizens in leaving the Middle East since the beginning of the Operation Epic Fury, the joint military offensive launched by Washington and Tel Aviv on February 28, 2026, against Iran.
Rubio made these statements to the press in Washington D.C. after informing Congress about the status of the military offensive ordered by President Donald Trump, whose stated goal is to destroy Iran's ability to manufacture and deploy ballistic missiles and attack drones.
According to the Secretary of State, the State Department implemented its evacuation plans during the first 72 hours of the conflict. "[The Department] implemented its plans during the last 72 hours to facilitate the departure of Americans, through charter flights, military flights, and commercial options," Rubio stated. Additionally, the department contacted approximately 3,000 citizens to provide them with personalized exit advice, and more than 300 Americans have already returned from Israel.
However, the evacuation is facing significant logistical challenges. Airports in Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Syria, and Israel remain closed, and most regional airlines have suspended their flights. The situation is particularly critical in Israel, where the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem warned that "it is not in a position at this time to evacuate or assist Americans in Israel directly."
The ambassador Mike Huckabee was even more direct in stating that there are "VERY LIMITED options" for American citizens to leave the country. In light of this situation, Rubio urged citizens in 14 to 16 countries in the region —including Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen— to depart immediately using any available means of transportation.
The scale of the challenge is substantial. A congressman estimated in a letter dated March 3, 2026, that there are approximately 1 million U.S. citizens in the Middle East region, making the evacuation operation one of the largest consular logistical challenges in recent years.
Regarding the military development of the operation, Rubio left no doubt about Washington's intentions. "Our mission and our focus is the destruction of Iran's ballistic missile capacity and their production, as well as the global shipping threat," declared the secretary. In its early days, Operation Epic Fury attacked over 1,000 targets and sank 11 Iranian warships in the Gulf of Oman.
The President Trump estimated that the operation would last four to five weeks. Rubio, for his part, warned that the worst for Iran is yet to come: "The hardest hits are still ahead" and "the next phase will be even more severe for Iran than the current one," the Secretary of State stated.
Rubio also responded to those who questioned the decision to act without consulting Congress first: "If we hadn’t done it, there would have been some hearing in the Capitol about how we knew this was going to happen and didn’t take proactive steps to prevent loss of life," he stated.
The Secretary of State clarified what the ultimate goal of the mission is, regardless of the government that may be in Tehran: "Ultimately, it doesn't matter who governs that country in a year: they will not have these ballistic missiles or these drones that threaten us. That is the objective of this mission," concluded Rubio, who also stated that "the world will be a safer place" when the Epic Fury Operation is completed.
Filed under: