Leavitt says Americans stranded in Middle East had prior warning not to travel

Source: The Hill

03/04/26 2:46 PM ET


White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday that Americans who are reporting being stranded in various parts of the Middle East as a result of Iranian retaliation to U.S. strikes were given prior warnings to evacuate. U.S. officials have advised citizens overseas to use a 24/7 hotline and enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive updates on potential opportunities to evacuate but have been told to use commercial flights or other measures to depart.

When a reporter noted that President Trump said Tuesday there was no time to make evacuation plans because U.S. strikes in Iran happened so fast, Leavitt said there had been plans in place to warn Americans to not travel to the region.

“There was many signs put out by the State Department, and I wish that everyone in this room would report on them,” Leavitt told reporters at the White House press briefing when asked if the administration could have done more in advance of the strikes to provide Americans in the region with more information and resources to come back to the U.S.

Three U.S. embassies remain closed as attacks from Iranians and proxies persist across several countries in the MIddle East. Some areas that are being hit by Iranian forces rarely, if ever, see military action including Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5767421-americans-evacuated-middle-east/