US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday (local time) that 9,000 Americans have returned home safely from the Middle East since the launch of Operation Epic Fury against Iran, which plunged the region into war.
In an interview with Truth Social, Trump said the US State Department is helping Americans in the Middle East who want to return home.
“The department will find out where you are and provide you with travel options,” Trump said.
“We are already chartering flights for free and booking commercial options that we expect will become more and more available over time,” Trump added.
How to register?
The US State Department has compiled a list of steps to take to register with them for travel assistance.
American citizens in the Middle East are encouraged to head there steps.state.gov or mytravel.state.gov/s/step and enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), a “free service that allows U.S. citizens and nationals to enroll in travel abroad so that the State Department can contact them accurately and quickly in the event of an emergency.”
For this purpose, US citizens can create accounts or continue as a guest and register.
Those who sign up will receive information on health, weather, safety and security in the region and can plan ahead with information from local US diplomatic missions.
Registration will also help US diplomatic missions contact US citizens with emergency updates.
According to the US State Department website, registering for STEP should take about 20 minutes.
Emergency numbers for US citizens
The US State Department also encouraged affected US citizens to contact its 24×7 State Department Task Force at +1-202-501-444 for emergency assistance for those based overseas.
Those in the US and Canada can also call +1-888-407-4747 for assistance.
Travel.gov for the latest updates
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, separately, also urged American citizens in the Middle East to monitor travel.gov social media, calling the safety and security of Americans his “number one priority.”
Americans can also visit the latest updates travel.state.gov/destinationand sign up to receive notifications directly.
Current alert levels for Middle East countries
The latest US State Department travel advisories for Americans in the Middle East are as follows:
Level 4 – Don’t Travel: Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen
Level 3 – Rethink Travel: Bahrain, Israel (West Bank: Level 3; Gaza: Level 4), Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Level 2 — Increased Exercise Caution: Egypt
