Americans stranded in the Middle East
The U.S. State Department is finding ways to help Americans evacuate the Middle East. The department says over the past several days, more than 9,000 Americans have safely returned from the region. Of those 9000, only 300 are coming from Israel.
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Phoenix, Ariz. – The U.S. State Department is urging Americans in the Middle East to leave the region immediately as escalating conflict and widespread airspace closures disrupt travel and evacuation efforts. However, attacks from Iran, closed embassies and shuttered airspace have created difficulties for Americans who find themselves trapped with few options.
Shanice Day was one of thousands of Americans who said they found themselves stranded in the Middle East after the conflict began. She and her best friend had traveled to Dubai to celebrate her 30th birthday.
“We did like a whole desert day,” Day said, “They started calling me their ‘habibi,’ and they let me play with the falcon.”
Once airspace closed, only a limited number of flights began leaving the region as safety allowed.
STATE DEPARTMENT USES PATRIOTS TEAM PLANE TO EVACUATE AMERICANS FROM MIDDLE EAST
Shanice Day was one of thousands of Americans who found themselves stranded in the Middle East after the conflict with Iran began. Once airspace closed, only a select number of flights began leaving the region as safety allowed. (Courtesy of Shanice Day)
Day only had a few days of vacation, before the U.S. and Israel struck Iran on February 28. Even though the airstrikes began that Saturday morning, Day didn’t realize there was an issue until that afternoon. By the time Day realized what had happened, Iran was already sending missiles towards the Gulf.
“As soon as I got open my phone, it says like ‘U.S., Israel strikes Iran.’ So, I told my friend that’s back at the hotel, and she’s at the beach at the moment. So, I’m actually like, ‘Hey, have you seen what’s going on?” Day recounted, “She explains that she sees like a missile, almost go across the sky.”
Iran responded to the American and Israeli attacks almost immediately, raining missile and drone strikes across the United Arab Emirates, even hitting Dubai International Airport, one of the busiest in the world. With their return flights canceled as the UAE closed its airspace, Day and her friend scrambled to find a way home while also trying to process the seriousness of the situation.
“We just kind of cried. That first 48 hours was so tough for us. Just having to break the news to our parents, because it was so early here. To hear my friend’s mom be so devastated, and then to hear my own mom’s voice crack like that. I would not wish this on anyone,” Day said.
AMERICANS STRANDED IN DUBAI FACE REPEATED FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS AMID IRAN ESCALATION
Emirati airspace would continue to open intermittently to limited flights,