Over 43,000 Americans return to US from Middle East since Feb. 28: State Department

WASHINGTON

More than 43,000 Americans have returned to the US from the Middle East since Feb. 28, the State Department said Wednesday.

The agency said it has completed more than three dozen charter flights to help Americans leave the region.

It said charter flights and ground transport operations will begin scaling down as demand declines and commercial travel options improve.

The State Department said nearly 9,000 US citizens in the United Arab Emirates were contacted March 11 and offered seats on government-chartered flights, but some flights departed with empty seats due to a "lack of demand."

"Most Americans who requested assistance have declined assistance when offered, opting either to remain in country or book commercial flight options," it added.

Tensions in the Middle East escalated after Israel and the US launched a joint attack against Iran on Feb. 28, and have killed more than 1,300 people to date, including then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, over 150 schoolgirls and senior military officials.

Iran has responded with drone and missile strikes targeting Israeli cities and locations hosting US military assets across the region, raising fears of a broader Middle East conflict.