CHICAGO (WLS) — As tensions escalate following six days of conflict with Iran, many Americans are urgently seeking to leave countries such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Israel.
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According to the State Department, around 20,000 U.S. citizens have successfully returned from the Middle East since the situation intensified on Saturday.
The department also reported that its task force has been instrumental in assisting approximately 10,000 of these individuals.
Among those caught in the turmoil is a Chicago barber, his wife, and a group of friends who find themselves stranded in Dubai after attending a golf tournament.
“It went from being scary to a complete nightmare. It’s just insane,” Chicago resident Axel Ramos shared.
Ramos recounted their ordeal, explaining that they had boarded a flight on Saturday which, ultimately, never took off. He mentioned that they remained on the aircraft for four hours before being asked to disembark.
They’ve been hunkered down in a hotel ever since.
“Hearing all these loud bombs and all these rockets that you would literally be able to look at the sky and see them, and trying to find somewhere to stay, it was a little scary,” Ramos said. “But now, the frustration of getting out of here and not having an answer is what is like, OK now this is real. We need to get out of here.”
Booking one canceled flight after another, his plan now is to simply go to the airport and see if he can find any flight out of the region.
Ramos says he has not received any communication or aid from the U.S. government
ABC7 Chicago has been keeping up with three suburban women who have also been stuck in Dubai since the war broke out.
The women were on their way to a mental health women’s retreat in Bali.
On Thursday morning, they said they felt a sense of hope.
With some luck, they successfully booked a flight out Friday. If all goes well, they’ll be back in Chicago by Sunday.
Qatar Airways is also scheduling limited “relief flights,” as the war in the Middle East continues.
Some returned to O’Hare Thursday.
They described a wave of relief that came only after they’d been in the air for some time. Their flight from Dubai took hours longer than normal in order to avoid Iranian air space.
The weary travelers were back in the arms of family, after days of uncertainty and fear.
“It feels great, man. It feels really good. We didn’t know we were going to make it. That’s the thing, you know, up until 5 in the morning, we weren’t sure,” Karim Mustafa said.
Ayesha Patel of Lincolnwood had two flights canceled before finally leaving Dubai.
“I was like praying. I was telling everyone. I was like we have to pray that this one makes it, and thankfully it did,” Patel said.
College student Patrice Mikhaeel recounted the days of missile strikes.
“We just felt it shake the whole floor, and again the next morning, three big booms, like as soon as you wake up, shakes the whole apartment building,” Mikhaeel said.
Her sleepless father was relieved.
“This, this is my baby girl. This is my bestie, and I’m thank God and thank United States we got her back,” Nazar Mikhaeel said.
Leyons Philip of downstate Bloomington found clarity from days of chaos.
“It was delay after delay, cancelation after cancelation. I couldn’t say I was home until I actually got on the plane and was about at least three, four hours in the air,” Philip said. “I’m just going to spend as much time with my wife and my kids because I’ve really missed them, and I’ve really truly realized what family is.”
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