The U.S. State Department reported that over the past several days it has evacuated in excess of 9,000 American citizens from countries across the Middle East, with the total including more than 300 people evacuated from Israel.
To facilitate the movement of evacuees, the department has organized a series of charter flights operating out of the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. Officials said they are working to secure additional flight capacity as security conditions permit.
For Americans located in countries where commercial aviation is not available, the State Department is arranging travel to third countries when conditions allow. That assistance is being provided as the department monitors and responds to evolving conditions on the ground.
In a significant policy decision tied to the evacuation operations, the State Department announced it will waive any statutory requirement that American citizens reimburse the U.S. government for travel expenses incurred as part of these evacuation efforts. The waiver means evacuees will not be billed by the government for the cost of their evacuation travel under the relevant statutory framework.
Department officials indicated they will maintain efforts to expand evacuation capacity as security conditions change, reiterating that additional flights and logistical support will be arranged where feasible. The department emphasized that adjustments to capacity will depend on developments in the region and on-the-ground assessments of safety and access.
The State Department's actions combine direct transport using chartered aircraft with arrangements to move U.S. citizens through third countries when standard commercial routes are disrupted. By waiving the usual reimbursement requirement, the government has removed a statutory financial obligation that might otherwise apply to those transported in this operation.
Officials said they will continue to assess conditions and take steps to increase transport options for American citizens in the region, constrained by security and operational realities.