US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the State Department is actively working on efforts to assist Americans who want to leave the Middle East.
“We have identified and continue to identify charter flights, military flight options and expanded commercial flight options, meaning working with the airlines to send bigger airplanes with more seats,” Rubio told reporters on Capitol Hill today.
Rubio said that in “a couple instances” planes were on their way to the region before the airspace was closed and they had to turn around.
More than 1,500 Americans have requested assistance from the State Department to depart the Middle East, Rubio said.
“We know that we’re going to be able to help them. It’s going to take a little time, because we don’t control the airspace,” he said.
Rubio asked Americans to register with the State Department so they can get updated information about evacuation opportunities.
“We need to know where you are. … They have to register with us, because as these options begin to open up … we have to be able to call you, we have to be able to reach you,” Rubio said.
Americans should register with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program at
step.state.gov.
The secretary of state’s comments come a day after the State Department’s top official for consular affairs called on US citizens to depart “using available commercial travel” from Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. Only a limited number of commercial flights are operating in the region.