Thousands of Americans Stranded in Middle East War

Nearly a week after Israeli and U.S. attacks on Iran sparked a regional war on February 28, thousands of Americans remained stranded in the Middle East on Friday, grappling with closed airspace, canceled flights and limited government assistance as they sought ways to return home. Evacuations have proven chaotic, with many citizens relying on commercial options, informal networks and personal resources amid widespread disruptions across more than a dozen countries.

Travel blogger Alyssa Ramos described her 48-hour escape from Kuwait as a grueling trek across four continents, during which she received no support from U.S. officials. After landing in Miami on Thursday, Ramos said she had messaged the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait repeatedly, only to be told by the consular section that it could not help her depart and that she should enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program and shelter in place. "They keep going on the news and saying they're doing everything they can to get Americans out," Ramos said. "I know for a fact they're not."

Similar frustrations echoed from other Americans. Chicago resident Susan Daley, who had been on a work trip in the United Arab Emirates, called the...