MATT GUTMAN:
00:01:33
And across the region, commercial jets are grounded. The State Department says around 1 million Americans are stranded. President Trump acknowledging that the repatriation hasn't been smooth.
REPORTER:
00:01:43
Why wasn't there an evacuation plan, and will you send planes to get people out? Well, because it happened all very quickly.
MATT GUTMAN:
00:01:50
Kat Spitzer says that quick reaction left her stuck in Dubai. That's been a little tough when you sort of hear that the government is kind of like, nope, there's nothing. [AIR RAID SIREN]
MATT GUTMAN:
00:02:02
And across the region, the dreaded routine of sirens and missiles, and in Israel, bomb shelters. Just closed the door to the bomb shelter. Dozens of people in here. You can see people bring their dogs, obviously their children. They've just come off the street. And this is the rhythm here in Tel Aviv. Fleeing that routine is Tamar Rubinstein, who just arrived in Israel for a visit, pregnant with twins. I'm getting close. I'm 23 weeks, so I didn't want to get to the point where I wouldn't be cleared to travel anymore.
MATT GUTMAN:
00:02:32
Her exodus? Seven hours by train, then bus to Egypt, then flights to Athens, Munich, and finally Chicago. So why not just wait until the missiles end and stay in a safe place? I don't know how long this is going to go on for. There's such a lack of clarity. Now, the State Department says it is organizing charter flights to try to get people home. But given that this is still an active conflict zone, that is going to take a lot of coordination and deconfliction. And that means that those flights will likely be slow. Kelly. Matt Gutman in Israel. Thank you.
