The United States Department of State has announced that nearly 24,000 American citizens have returned to the United States from the Middle East since the conflict involving Iran began on February 28.

Assistant Secretary Dylan Johnson disclosed this in a statement released on Friday on the department’s official website.

According to Johnson, the figure does not include several other Americans who have relocated to safer countries within the region or those who have already departed the Middle East but are still on their way back to the United States.

He explained that the department continues to actively reach out to American citizens in the region to provide travel support, including charter flights and ground transportation where necessary.

“The Department continues to proactively contact American citizens to offer assistance through charter flights or ground transport,” the statement said.

Johnson added that a number of flights have already transported hundreds of Americans back to the United States safely, while additional evacuation flights are scheduled in the coming days depending on the security situation.

He also noted that commercial flight services across the Middle East are gradually improving, with airline options now available in many parts of the region.

The State Department further advised Americans currently in Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Israel who require assistance to fill out a crisis intake form. This will allow them receive updates on available charter flights and ground evacuation options.

Meanwhile, the conflict involving the United States and Israel against Iran entered its second week on Saturday.

One of the major developments on Saturday was a public apology issued by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to Gulf nations that have experienced missile and drone attacks launched from Iranian territory.

Pezeshkian said Iran’s interim leadership council had decided on Friday that neighbouring countries would no longer be targeted unless Iran itself was attacked from their territories.

The Iranian president also dismissed a call by U.S. President Donald Trump for Iran’s unconditional surrender, describing it as a “fantasy they should take to their grave.”