State Department Urges Americans to Leave Middle East Amid Airspace Closures

Travel disruptions and missile strikes leave thousands of Americans stranded in the region

Mar. 15, 2026 at 8:06am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The U.S. State Department is urging Americans in the Middle East to leave the region immediately as escalating conflict and widespread airspace closures disrupt travel and evacuation efforts. Thousands of Americans have found themselves trapped in countries like the United Arab Emirates and Israel, with canceled flights and limited options to return home safely.

Why it matters

The ongoing conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran has created a dangerous situation for American citizens in the Middle East, with missile strikes, airspace closures, and limited evacuation options. This highlights the risks and challenges of travel to the region during times of heightened tensions and the importance of heeding government warnings.

The details

Americans traveling in Dubai and Israel have recounted missile alerts, canceled flights, and sheltering in bomb shelters as the conflict has unfolded. Shanice Day and her friend were celebrating a birthday in Dubai when the airstrikes began, leading to the UAE closing its airspace and stranding them. In Israel, Jenna Fonberg, Jetlyn Toledo, and Fonberg's brother Blake took shelter during missile threats, while newlyweds Ben Suster and his wife spent their honeymoon in a public bomb shelter. The State Department says over 32,000 Americans have returned to the U.S. since the conflict began.

  • On February 28, the U.S. and Israel struck Iran, prompting immediate missile and drone strikes from Iran across the United Arab Emirates.
  • On March 4, Israeli airspace slowly began opening, allowing Fonberg and Toledo to return to the U.S. on their originally scheduled flights.

The players

Shanice Day

An American tourist who was visiting Dubai with her best friend when the conflict began.

Jenna Fonberg

An American who traveled to Israel to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Purim with her older brother, Blake.

Jetlyn Toledo

Fonberg's friend who accompanied her on the trip to Israel.

Blake

Fonberg's older brother who lives in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Ben Suster

An American newlywed who was on his honeymoon in Israel when the conflict began.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We just kind of cried. That first 48 hours was so tough for us. Just having to break the news to our parents, because it was so early here. To hear my friend's mom be so devastated, and then to hear my own mom's voice crack like that. I would not wish this on anyone.”

— Shanice Day (foxnews.com)

“There's a lot of new faces today, because it's kind of close to the beach, so a lot of people just walking on the boardwalk run in here.”

— Jenna Fonberg (foxnews.com)

“We have to stay positive. If we are not positive, we lose. And, I think I really tried to instill that into them [Fonberg and Toledo] day one. I was like, 'Everything's going to be fine,'”

— Blake (foxnews.com)

“Obviously, sitting in a gloomy garage was not how we expected to end our honeymoon.”

— Ben Suster (foxnews.com)

“We don't even know what tomorrow's going to look like. We were told what the final destination would be, but when that happens, how we're getting there, not a clue.”

— Ben Suster (foxnews.com)

What’s next

The State Department continues to monitor the situation in the Middle East and urge Americans to leave the region as soon as possible. Authorities are working to facilitate the safe return of all U.S. citizens trapped in the conflict zone.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the unpredictable and dangerous nature of travel to the Middle East during times of heightened regional tensions. It serves as a reminder for Americans to closely heed government travel warnings and be prepared to change plans or evacuate at a moment's notice when visiting conflict-prone areas.