The United States Department of State has confirmed that approximately 24,000 U.S. citizens have returned from the Middle East since the military attacks against Iran began on February 28. This figure does not include many U.S. citizens who have relocated to other countries or those who have left the Middle East but are still in transit back to the United States, the department stated in a declaration. Several flights have already brought hundreds of U.S. citizens back to the country, and additional flights are scheduled for the coming days, depending on security conditions, according to the statement as reported by the Argentine News Agency. The majority of the 24,000 Americans were able to return on their own using commercial transportation, media report.
The Trump administration was criticized for failing to organize the timely evacuation of U.S. citizens amid the intensifying conflict. On social media, many stranded U.S. citizens reported encountering closed airports, canceled flights, and what they described as concerning and unclear guidance from the U.S. government while trying to find ways to leave the region.
