Americans stranded in the Middle East say they were left on their own to escape the Iran war, and the stories are alarming

Americans caught in the escalating war with Iran are finally making their way home, but many say they had to navigate the crisis largely on their own. Travelers described scrambling to find routes out of the region after widespread flight cancellations and conflicting guidance.

The disruption came as the conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran expanded across the Middle East, stranding large numbers of travelers. As reported by The Associated Press, many Americans said they were forced to coordinate their own escape plans as airports across major Gulf hubs faced severe disruptions.

For some, the danger arrived without warning. Explosions in the sky woke Cory McKane in Dubai on a Saturday, turning what was supposed to be a quick trip before a friend’s wedding into a scramble to leave the region.

Many travelers say they had to find their own way out

Alyssa Ramos, a travel blogger, described a 48-hour evacuation from Kuwait that took her across four continents. She landed in Miami on Thursday and said the U.S. government offered no direct help.

Ramos said she repeatedly contacted the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait but was told officials could not help arrange travel and advised her to shelter in place. Her experience unfolded as broader weapons supply questions continued to surround the regional conflict.

Susan Daley, a Chicago resident traveling for work in the United Arab Emirates, also struggled to get home. She returned to the United States on the first commercial flight from Dubai to San Francisco since the conflict began.

Daley said State Department alerts urged Americans to leave immediately but offered little practical guidance. Travelers were left competing for scarce flights or searching for alternate routes out of the region.

The Trump administration has pushed back against criticism that its response was too slow. The State Department said the first U.S.-chartered repatriation flight arrived Thursday, with more expected daily, and said about 13,000 Americans contacted the department during the crisis.

With limited coordination from Washington, stranded travelers organized their own support networks online. WhatsApp group chats and social media became hubs for sharing information about flights, drivers, border crossings, and travel costs.

McKane relied on one of those chats while trying to leave Dubai. He and friends rented a car and drove across the border into Oman before continuing to Muscat’s airport, where flights were still operating.

Democratic lawmakers have criticized the response as unacceptable. Former congressman Jason Altmire said the only message he received from the State Department was a general email advising Americans to find their own way out or shelter in place, amid White House war messaging that had already drawn attention elsewhere.

Airspace over Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Syria remains closed, though flights have gradually resumed in parts of the region. Countries including Oman, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan have become key exit points for Americans trying to piece together routes home.

Trenten Higgins reached New York after traveling by taxi from Israel into Jordan and flying from Amman, saying State Department alerts often arrived too late to be useful.