Rep. Nancy Mace says she helped evacuate 155 Americans from the Middle East, while organizers say nearly 200 people have been brought out of the region. Grey Bull Rescue founder Bryan Stern warned that contested airspace and limited commercial flights make further evacuations fragile. Mace estimates more than 10,000 U.S. citizens remain in Israel alone and said many others are stranded across nearby countries. Authorities and private groups continue working to expand safe exit options.
Nancy Mace: 155 Evacuated — Thousands of Americans Still Stranded in Middle East
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) and Bryan Stern, founder of Grey Bull Rescue, say they helped evacuate 155 Americans from the Middle East but warn that thousands of U.S. citizens remain stranded amid volatile conditions.
Rescue Efforts and Immediate Results
Mace said she originally traveled to the region to assist a South Carolina family; what began as a 36-hour mission grew into broader evacuation work after she connected with Grey Bull Rescue. Within hours, Stern was at the Israel–Jordan border to help extract the last family from Israel.
'This was about ensuring that Americans made it home,' Mace said. 'I helped provide a plane from the government and two nights ago we got those folks flown back.'
The pair report that roughly 155 people were directly assisted, and organizers say nearly 200 individuals have been brought out of the region overall. However, they emphasize that most remaining Americans must rely on limited commercial flights to depart.
Why Evacuations Are Complicated
'The reality of the situation is the airspace is contested,' Stern told the program. He cautioned that while flights are reopening day by day, the situation is fragile: 'One airplane goes down in Ben Gurion Airport, and that's the end of that story. So people are stuck there.'
Mace estimated there are more than 10,000 Americans in Israel alone and said that figure does not include U.S. citizens in Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE or other nearby countries. She added that she felt guilty returning home while many others remained abroad.
Authorities and private rescue groups continue working to increase options, but organizers warn continued instability will complicate large-scale evacuations for the foreseeable future. News outlets and officials are monitoring developments and will provide updates as flights and corridors reopen.
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