Americans trying to evacuate Middle East frustrated with government response
CBSN
As the U.S. Department of State urges Americans to leave 14 countries across the Middle East amid the widening war with Iran, some Americans are voicing frustration with the lack of help from their government. In:
As the U.S. Department of State urges Americans to leave 14 countries across the Middle East amid the widening war with Iran, some Americans are voicing frustration with the lack of help from their government.
Sasha Hoffman, an American who lives in Chicago and was vacationing in Dubai when the U.S.-Israeli military action began, initially thought she would be able to wait out the fighting. But after hearing President Trump say Operation Epic Fury could last four to five weeks, her thinking changed.
"We're honestly trapped," she told CBS News on Tuesday. "It's really frustrating that right now the U.S. is saying 'Americans come home' when in reality we can't come home. We've had flights booked today, tomorrow, all of them are canceled. All of the airspace is closed through tomorrow night, now, if you're in the UAE."
She said she understands the need to prioritize safety, "but then you can't tell us to get out and create no zone where we can all leave on commercial flights."
Hoffman also spoke of the fear of being trapped in a warzone, telling CBS News, "It's terrifying."
