U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday (March 3) that roughly 9,000 Americans have evacuated the Middle East since the start of U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, as Washington accelerates a large-scale effort to help its citizens leave an increasingly volatile region. Over the past 72 hours, the State Department has activated emergency plans, coordinating charter flights, military transport and expanded commercial options with partner airlines to move people out despite widespread airspace closures and disrupted routes.