U.S. Diplomats and Citizens Abroad

The State Department told Senate Democrats that nearly 28,000 Americans have been evacuated since the Iran war escalated and defended its “proactive” response — citing charter flights, military airlift seats, ground transport and 24/7 crisis staffing — while the White House says citizens in 14 countries were urged to leave and earlier help‑line problems have been resolved. Democrats countered that diplomatic gaps remain (only six of those 14 countries have confirmed ambassadors and envoys in Qatar, Kuwait and Egypt were dismissed), and reporting from the region describes scarce commercial flights, closed airspace, soaring fares and closed consulates or passport delays that left many effectively stranded even as charter evacuations began.