{"id":2576533,"date":"2026-03-05T15:21:02","date_gmt":"2026-03-05T20:21:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/state-department-announces-first-us-chartered-evacuation-flight-from-middle-east-and-10000-aided-in-return\/"},"modified":"2026-03-05T15:23:42","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T20:23:42","slug":"state-department-announces-first-us-chartered-evacuation-flight-from-middle-east-and-10000-aided-in-return","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/state-department-announces-first-us-chartered-evacuation-flight-from-middle-east-and-10000-aided-in-return\/","title":{"rendered":"State Department announces first US-chartered evacuation flight from Middle East and 10,000 aided in return"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fstate-department-announces-first-us-chartered-evacuation-flight-from-middle-east-and-10000-aided-in-return%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2576533&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The State Department announced the first U.S.-chartered evacuation flight from the Middle East as part of ongoing efforts to help Americans return home amid the regional conflict with Iran. The department says about 20,000 Americans have returned since Operation Epic Fury began, with roughly half arriving on their own arrangements and the rest aided by the State Department through ground transportation and seats on commercial flights. Additional charter flights are planned to hubs in the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Israel, and Americans seeking assistance should use the Crisis Intake form and contact the 24\/7 Task Force. The first flight departed on Thursday from an unspecified country, and passenger details will be released only after landing in the U.S. White House officials say evacuation services are free, and similar efforts are underway in Germany, the United Kingdom, and France. Azerbaijan has accused Iran of striking one of it&#8217;s airports with a drone, highlighting the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/who-has-been-killed-so-far-during-us-israel-mission-in-iran\/\" title=\"Who has been killed so far during US...Israel mission in ...?\">broader regional impact<\/a>. The administration had previously said military aircraft would be deployed to aid evacuations, but none have been offered so far.<\/p>\n<p>Key points:<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; First US-chartered evacuation flight from the Middle East; more flights planned.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; 20,000 Americans have returned since Operation Epic Fury; about 10,000 by their own arrangements; the rest with State Department assistance.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Evacuations slated for UAE, Qatar, Saudi arabia, and Israel; Crisis Intake Form and 24\/7 Task Force available.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; White House and State Department say evacuations are free.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Germany, the UK, and France are conducting parallel evacuation efforts.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Azerbaijan accuses Iran of a drone strike on its airport.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; No <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/7-killed-in-kabul-airport-as-chaos-ensues-flights-suspended-then-restarted\/\" title=\"7 Killed In Kabul ... As Chaos Ensues. ...s Suspended, Then Restarted\">military evacuation flights<\/a> have been offered yet.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">State Department announces first US-chartered evacuation flight from Middle East and 10,000 aided in return<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2523939\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The State Department released updated figures on its evacuation efforts in the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/middle-east\/\">Middle East<\/a>, announcing the first flight out of the region commissioned directly by the U.S. government.<\/p>\n<p>A plane from an unspecified country departed for the United States on Thursday &mdash; the first in a series of departures planned by the department in &ldquo;ongoing efforts to assist Americans return home&rdquo; amid exchanges of missiles with <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/iran\/\">Iran<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4481893\/russia-distances-from-iran-conflict-not-our-war\/\">Russia distances itself from Iran conflict: &#8216;Not our war&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4481803\/trump-demands-israel-president-isaac-herzog-pardon-benjamin-netanyahu\/\">Trump demands Israeli president pardon Netanyahu: &#8216;Herzog is a disgrace&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4481654\/who-are-the-kurds-group-rumored-joining-us-war-iran\/\">Who are the Kurds, the group rumored to be joining the US war in Iran?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;Additional flights will be surged across the region and American citizens in UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Israel interested in the Department&rsquo;s charter flight or ground transportation options, should complete the Crisis Intake Form &hellip; or contact the State Department&rsquo;s 24\/7 Task Force,&rdquo; a State Department spokesperson said.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">People arrive from Dubai at the Charles de Gaulle International Airport in Roissy, outside Paris, France, Thursday, March 5, 2026. (AP Photo\/Thibault Camus)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>More granular information about the flight, such as its passengers and place of departure, is not being revealed until it has safely landed in the U.S.<\/p>\n<p>The State Department released evacuation data the same day, indicating that 20,000 Americans have returned home from the Middle East since the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4475968\/khamenei-aides-irgc-commander-killed-israeli-strikes\/\">outbreak of Operation Epic Fury<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Approximately 10,000 of those citizens arrived home through their own arrangements, while the other half were assisted by the State Department, whether by ground transportation to operating airports or by logistical assistance securing seats on a commercial plane.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Our <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >commitment remains steadfast &#038;mdash<\/a>; 24\/7 assisting the American people every single way that we can. Every second we&rsquo;re identifying more options,&rdquo; principal deputy spokesman Thomas Pigott told CBS News on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>Some initial panic grew in the immediate aftermath of Operation Epic Fury as Americans abroad in the Middle East reported being told by U.S. foreign offices that they would need to arrange their own transportation home.<\/p>\n<p>Key airports in the region, including hubs in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, were struck in the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4476130\/iran-missile-attack-israel-uae-kuwait\/\">initial waves of counterattack<\/a> following the joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Tehran.<\/p>\n<p>Since then, the State Department has opened new lines of communication and assured all expatriates that the government is ready and willing to assist with their return.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Lufthansa plane from Muscat, Oman, the first evacuation flight on behalf of the German government, lands at Frankfurt Airport in Frankfurt\/Main, Germany on Thursday, March 5, 2026. (Hannes P. Albert\/dpa via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The U.S. government previously <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4478553\/us-citizens-stranded-state-department-mass-evacuations-middle-east\/\">promised to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nato-fighters-scrambled-to-defend-airspace-amid-russian-aerial-assault\/\" title=\"NATO jets rush to protect airspace during Russian attack\">deploy military aircraft<\/a> <\/a>to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/taliban-leaders-used-twitter-and-whatsapp-to-help-capture-kabul\/\" title=\"Taliban Leaders Used Twitter and WhatsApp to Help Capture Kabul\">aid evacuation efforts<\/a>, but thus far, such planes have not been offered for fleeing American citizens.<\/p>\n<p>White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt affirmed at a Wednesday press conference that all evacuation services will be rendered without charge.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4480530\/white-house-state-department-defend-evacuation-strategies-us-citizens\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4480530\/white-house-state-department-defend-evacuation-strategies-us-citizens\/\">WHITE HOUSE AND STATE DEPARTMENT DEFEND EVACUATION STRATEGIES FOR US CITIZENS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>She added: &ldquo;We will help every single American who wants to come home if they are making that request of the State Department.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Similar evacuation efforts are underway by the governments of Germany, the United Kingdom, and France.<\/p>\n<p>Azerbaijan is <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4481421\/iran-widens-regional-war-with-first-strike-into-azerbaijan\/\">accusing Iran of striking <\/a>one of its airports with a drone on Thursday, an incident that, if confirmed, would mark one of the most distant attacks launched by Iran since the conflict began on Saturday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>US gov-chartered evac flight from Middle East 10k aided<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3468,"featured_media":2576534,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26064248007916.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[17713,73799,21014,75155],"class_list":["post-2576533","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-evacuation","tag-middle-east-2","tag-repatriation","tag-state-department-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26064248007916.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2576533","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3468"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2576533"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2576533\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2576537,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2576533\/revisions\/2576537"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2576534"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2576533"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2576533"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2576533"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}