State Department Hotline Updated to Help Americans Escape Middle East, Leavitt Says

The State Department has fixed the travel hotline for Americans seeking help in evacuating Middle Eastern countries amid the conflict in Iran, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday.

“The line was updated, and I expect every single person in this room to report on that accurately,” Leavitt said, “so that information can be relayed appropriately to your audiences and to the American people.”

The hotline previously told those trying to evacuate that they should not “rely” on the U.S. government, but it has now been updated.

“That is something the administration quickly worked to address,” Leavitt said, “and we have fixed that problem.”

Leavitt urged Americans traveling abroad to register for help in evacuating.

“We’re also pointing people to the website again to register so that we know exactly where you are,” Leavitt said, “so when there are commercial flights moving into that area, when there are chartered flights moving into that area, we can get Americans on planes as quickly as possible.”

Since Feb. 28, more 17,500 American citizens have safely returned to the United States from the Middle East, with over 8,500 American citizens returning to the U.S. yesterday alone, according to State Department Assistant Secretary Dylan Johnson.

“Many more Americans have left the Middle East to other countries in Europe and Asia,” Johnson said, “and others have safely departed the Middle East but are still in transit back to the United States.

“Though the State Department’s 24/7 Task Force, we have assisted nearly 6,500 Americans abroad, including offering security guidance and travel assistance,” he continued. “The U.S. State Department will continue to actively assist any American citizen abroad, who wishes to depart the Middle East, to do so.”

Johnson encouraged Americans in the Middle East who need assistance to call the State Department at +1-202-501-4444.

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