March 7 (Reuters) – The United States has completed more than a dozen charter flights and evacuated thousands of Americans from the Middle East since last week, the U.S. Department of State said on Saturday.
Donald Trump’s administration has faced criticism over its planning and initial assistance to US citizens trying to leave the region since US and Israeli attacks on Iran began last Saturday, with the Iranians responding with attacks on neighboring countries, triggering the closure of airspace.
The State Department said it was increasing charter flight and ground transportation operations in the region as security conditions permit.
(Reporting by Bhargav Acharya in Toronto)
