US sends planes to evacuate nationals from Middle East as Iran conflict spreads

March 3, 2026

The United States government is organizing charter flights and working to secure military aircraft to evacuate American citizens from fifteen Middle Eastern countries following escalated military conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran. The State Department has urged Americans to leave immediately due to serious safety risks, though many commercial flights have been canceled since hostilities began over the weekend. While 9,000 US citizens have already returned home, between 500,000 and one million Americans are estimated to be in the region, with some reporting inadequate support and unclear evacuation guidance.

Who is affected

American citizens in 15 Middle Eastern countries (Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the occupied West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE, and Yemen)
Approximately 500,000 to one million US nationals estimated to be living in the Middle East
Nearly 3,000 Americans contacted directly by the State Department
Specific individuals like Krista Jucknath Hickman and her husband, stranded in the UAE
French nationals (approximately 400,000) in the Middle East
British citizens in the region (estimated 300,000, with 102,000 registered)
Holidaymakers, transit passengers, and business travelers from multiple countries

What action is being taken

The US State Department is actively working to secure military aircraft and charter flights for evacuations
The State Department is helping Americans book flights from countries where commercial air travel remains available
The State Department has been in direct contact with nearly 3,000 Americans abroad
Israel has begun operating shuttles to the Taba Border Crossing with Egypt
France is preparing to fly back at-risk citizens using commercial and military flights
The UK government is urging British citizens to register their presence

Why it matters

This represents an unprecedented humanitarian crisis affecting hundreds of thousands of Western citizens across 15 countries in the Middle East. The widening conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran has created serious safety risks requiring coordinated international evacuation efforts. The scale of people affected—potentially over a million Americans alone—combined with canceled commercial flights and inadequate evacuation infrastructure, creates a major challenge for governments to protect their citizens abroad. This situation highlights both the regional destabilization caused by the conflict and the vulnerability of civilian populations caught in conflict zones.

What's next

Americans are urged to check the latest security updates with nearby embassies and consulates
The US embassy in Jerusalem will be closed on Tuesday
France is preparing evacuation flights for at-risk citizens
The UK government will use registration information to provide support to British citizens

Read full article from source: BBC