Some travel may slowly resume in parts of the Middle East as Iranian strikes across the region triggered airport shutdowns, airspace closures and widespread flight suspensions.
While the situation remains fluid after multiple countries across the Middle East and Mediterranean were hit with drones and missiles from Iran, major travel hubs in the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Qatar and other countries have faced significant operational disruptions that are impacting travelers.
Watch special coverage on Nightline, "War with Iran," each night on ABC and streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.
Since the start of the war on Feb. 28, about 20,000 flights that were scheduled to arrive or depart from the Middle East have been canceled, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.
The State Department announced Tuesday that it's facilitating charter flights from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Jordan for American citizens and making proactive calls to those who have reached out to express interest in leaving the Middle East and will share updates about departure options as they become available.
The State Department is aware of more than 17,500 Americans who have already safely returned home since Feb. 28, according to Assistant Secretary Dylan Johnson. On Tuesday alone, over 8,500 American citizens returned from the region to the U.S., the department said.
Some of the Americans leaving the Middle East received guidance from the U.S. government, while others had secured their own travel independently, per the State Department.
In an effort to more directly assist Americans overseas, the State Department is expected to launch charter buses in Israel and other countries where the airspace is closed to help move Americans to countries where the airspace is open.
The department will waive any statutory requirements for Americans' travel expenses, making those flights or buses free.
On Tuesday, El Al Israel Airlines announced an update on X that it's launching "an operation to bring Israelis back home" following the decision to gradually reopen the airspace and Ben Gurion Airport.
"Starting this evening, we will begin proactively assigning our customers currently abroad to return flights to Israel," the carrier said. "We are operating in accordance with the authorities' guidelines, and in line with the published restrictions on the number of landings at Ben Gurion Airport."
The phased return to operations will prioritize "exceptional humanitarian medical cases."
Parts of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, two of the region's busiest travel centers, entered what officials described as an essential lockdown with periods of restricted movement over the weekend, as projectile interceptions and falling debris created hazards and damage near civilian areas.
Footage shared with ABC News showed dark plumes of smoke rising over Dubai's skyline, including close to major hotel areas.
Air travel throughout the region has been significantly affected after airspace closures halted flights and left some U.S. citizens unable to depart.
Ryan Blackmon, a consultant from Frisco, Texas, told ABC News he was traveling in India for a week on business before getting stranded in Doha, Qatar, on Feb. 28 when "plans changed abruptly."
After nearly two hours into his flight to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Blackmon "noticed our route had changed a little bit" before the captain notified passengers about a change to the flight plan.
"I started to do a little bit of research online to figure out what may be going on [and] saw some breaking news that Iranian airspace would be restricted," Blackmon recalled. "My initial reaction was probably land, refuel, find a different route, maybe head west. And then four or five days later, still in Doha."
"I have a family back home -- and to be here close to a week later is definitely disheartening," Blackmon, 37, said, adding he spoke to the State Department Wednesday morning and has "tremendous optimism" for the U.S. to get him back home.
"They're actively working on solutions for U.S. citizens at this point. They've recommended commercial options and air travel with the best route once those options become available," he said.
Blackmon said there are no current plans for government-assisted evacuations and has heard of others who have looked into alternative options.
"There are individuals that are taking buses or ground transportation to Riyadh or other locations in the region, or kind of sitting tight in Doha is kind of one of two options. My current feeling is I feel safe in Doha, I feel confident in the country to protect the citizens and individuals here," he said. "My best feeling is to stay put, wait for a commercial option to come available, or wait for correspondence from the U.S. Government to support."
On Monday, Team USA basketball player Destiny Littleton, who plays professionally in Israel, confirmed she was stranded in Dubai and was "in survival mode."
Littleton could "hear the interceptor missiles... blow up the missiles coming towards us and that was very scary."
Kristy Ellmer and her partner Matt had traveled to Dubai for business and now their return home remains uncertain.
Ellmer told ABC News they endured "a very long night, lots of explosions, lots of warnings, a lot of jet sounds," while stuck in Dubai.
In light of the military operations, the State Department has issued various travel advisories, encouraging U.S. citizens traveling worldwide and especially in the Middle East to "follow the guidance in the latest security alerts issued by the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate."
The State Department is urging Americans to leave 14 countries in the Middle East immediately "due to serious safety risks," Mora Namdar, the assistant secretary of state for consular affairs, said on X.
The locations listed in the security alert are: Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
Travelers should be sure to check the State Department Travel Information Page for details and entry requirements and enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, or STEP, for safety updates and information on how to get help in an emergency from the embassy or consulate.
As of Tuesday morning local time, Kuwait and Qatar have been designated as level 3 advisories to "reconsider travel."
Bahrain has upgraded from a level 2, which means "exercise increased caution," to a level 3.
Israel remains at a level 3, but the authorized departure of non-emergency employees and ongoing shelter-in-place orders for embassy staffers mean resources for Americans may be reduced.
Per the State Department's Worldwide Caution alert issued Feb. 28, Americans "may experience travel disruptions due to periodic airspace closures" in the Middle East.
In a security alert for Iran released Monday, the State Department advised Americans to shelter-in-place, but also said that "if safe to do so, Americans should leave Iran now by land."
"Be aware the Iranian government may restrict or prevent departures from Iran. U.S.-Iranian dual nationals must exit Iran on Iranian passports," the alert stated.
The State Department also provided information on the current status of various border crossings, directing American nationals to a crossing into Armenia and various Turkish land crossings.
The confirmed disruptions across multiple countries and major travel corridors have set the stage for continued delays and complications for travelers and carriers throughout the region.
El Al announced Tuesday on X that as the airspace and Ben Gurion Airport gradually reopens, the carrier will begin operations to return customers to Israel.
Delta has paused flights between John F. Kennedy Airport in New York and Tel Aviv through March 22 "in response to the ongoing conflict in the region," the airline said.
Dubai-based Emirates announced that it would begin operating a limited number of flights on Monday evening.
Dubai-based Emirates announced Wednesday that flights to and from Dubai will remain suspended through 23:59 hrs UAE time, 2:59 p.m. ET on March 7, due to airspace closures across the region. The airline is operating a limited number of passenger repatriation and freighter flights on Wednesday.
"We are accommodating customers with earlier bookings as a priority on these limited flights. Customers transiting in Dubai will only be accepted for travel if their connecting flight is operating," the airline stated. "Please do not go to the airport unless you have been notified. All other flights remain suspended until further notice."
Updates will be published on the Emirates website and its official social media channels.
American Airlines expects to resume flights from Philadelphia to Doha, Qatar on March 10, the airline confirmed to ABC News. Doha return flights to Philadelphia will be scheduled to leave two days later and the airline extended its travel waiver through March 15.
Etihad Airways was the first commercial flight from Abu Dhabi to take off on Monday morning, traveling to London after airlines previously suspended operations over the weekend.
An advisory was initially in place that warned pilots in the United Arab Emirates to exercise caution due to "escalated security action" and adhere to air traffic controllers' instructions.
Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi partially resumed operations on Monday and said in a post on X that "Passengers are advised to check with their airlines for updates on flight schedules prior to traveling to the airport."
Sharjah Airport in the UAE resumed partial operations on Monday night, the Sharjah Airport Authority (SAA) announced the limited resumption of flight operations under a "defined operational schedule and in close coordination with airlines and the relevant authorities."
Qatar Airways said in an update on Wednesday that flight operations remain temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace.
The carrier said it will "resume operations once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority announces the safe reopening of Qatari airspace," noting that a further update will be provided on Tuesday.
ABC News confirmed that United Airlines has canceled flights departing the U.S. to Tel Aviv and Dubai through March 11, as well as their corresponding returns.
United has issued a travel waiver to customers with travel in the affected region so passengers can change their itineraries without cost.
Some airspace closures have been extended through the following dates and times and it is likely that these will continue to be extended, ABC News confirmed.
Airspace was closed in Israel, Iran, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Syria and Jordan as of Wednesday afternoon, according to the FAA.
ABC News' Ayesha Ali, Clara McMichael, and Shannon Kingston contributed to this report.
