Washington, March 7 (NationPress) Over 28,000 American citizens have successfully returned to the United States from the Middle East since the end of February, as reported by the State Department on Saturday. This ongoing operation underscores Washington's commitment to large-scale evacuation and assistance initiatives throughout the region.

In a recent statement, Assistant Secretary of State Dylan Johnson highlighted the government's efforts in coordinating flights, ground transportation, and emergency aid to facilitate the safe departure of Americans amid prevailing security concerns.

"Since February 28, more than 28,000 American citizens have safely returned to the United States from the Middle East," Johnson remarked.

It's important to note that this data excludes Americans who have traveled to other countries in the region or those still en route back to the US.

The statement clarified, "These numbers do not encompass the many Americans who have securely relocated to different countries or those who have left the Middle East but are still in transit back to the US."

The US State Department has organized specialized charter flights to evacuate Americans from areas experiencing instability.

Johnson further stated, "The Department of State has successfully completed more than a dozen charter flights, evacuating thousands of Americans from the Middle East."

Officials indicated that the evacuation efforts are ongoing, even as commercial aviation services in the region begin to stabilize.

"While the availability of commercial flights across the region is improving, the Department of State's charter flight and ground transport operations are increasing as security conditions permit," the statement noted.

The emergency task force of the State Department is also managing assistance requests from American citizens in various Middle Eastern nations.

"Through the State Department's 24/7 Task Force, we have provided direct assistance to over 16,000 Americans abroad, offering security guidance and travel support," Johnson added.

US officials have urged American citizens residing in several Gulf nations and Israel who need help leaving the region to reach out to the department via its crisis system.

The statement advised, "American citizens in Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Israel requiring travel assistance should complete the Crisis Intake Form."

The State Department reaffirmed that its assistance initiatives will persist as long as there are Americans in need of support to exit the region.

Johnson stated, "The State Department will continue to actively assist any American citizen who wishes to leave the Middle East."

Officials also encouraged Americans seeking aid to contact the department's emergency hotline.

"Americans in the Middle East who require assistance can call the US Department of State at +1-202-501-4444, available 24/7," the statement emphasized.

This evacuation effort has emerged as tensions have risen across various parts of the Middle East in recent weeks, prompting Washington to advise American citizens to reconsider travel plans and assess security conditions in numerous countries.

The US government has a history of organizing large-scale evacuations during crises in conflict zones or regions facing sudden instability, often coordinating charter flights, military transport, and diplomatic support through embassies and consulates.