WASHINGTON: More than 40,000 Americans have returned to the United States from the Middle East since the start of joint U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, the State Department said Tuesday.
Assistant Secretary Dylan Johnson said the department had arranged more than two dozen charter flights and directly assisted over 27,000 Americans abroad with security guidance and travel support, reports Anadolu.
Ground transportation operations and charter flights are continuing as commercial flight availability across the region gradually improves, he added.
The latest figure represents an increase from the 36,000 Americans reported to have departed the region as of Monday.
“The State Department will continue to actively assist any American citizen who wishes to depart the Middle East,” Johnson said.
The escalation in the region began when Israel and the United States launched joint strikes against Iran on Feb. 28, resulting in more than 1,300 deaths to date, including Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Tehran has responded with drone and missile attacks targeting Israel as well as Gulf states hosting U.S. military assets.
Eight U.S. service members have been killed since the campaign began.
