AMERICANS stranded in the Middle East by the fiery Iran war were seen boarding a New England Patriots plane as they finally made their way home.
Officials insisted the NFL had nothing to do with the rescue despite sharing a picture of the craft with the team’s branding emblazoned on the side.
Americans appeared to board a New England Patriots plane for a rescue flight out of the Middle EastCredit: X/ASDylanJohnson
Billowing smoke is rising in Tehran, Iran, as the war with the US and Israel heats upCredit: Getty
A police station in Iran was reduced to rubble by airstrikesCredit: Getty
The flight landed safely in Washington DC on Friday morning and was entirely paid for by the State Department, Assistant Secretary of Global Public Affairs Dylan Johnson said.
“The New England Patriots organization were not involved in this flight,” wrote the spokesperson.
But despite the official’s statement, the Patriots are said to encourage using the private jet for humanitarian and national interest missions when it’s not being used by the team, a source told Fox News .
On Friday morning, the State Department said nearly 24,000 American citizens have returned to the states from the Middle East since the war began.
“These figures do not include the many Americans who have safely relocated to other countries or those who have departed the Middle East but are still in transit back to the United States,” Johnson said.
“Through the State Department’s 24/7 Task Force, we have directly assisted nearly 13,000 Americans abroad, offering security guidance and travel assistance.”
Americans stuck in Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Israel are asked to fill out a crisis intake form through MyTravelGov .
Tens of thousands of refugees have already fled their homes in the war-torn sections of Middle East that have been battered by missile strikes.
On Friday, Israeli warplanes bombed Beirut and Tehran, and Iran retaliated with counterstrikes in Israel and Gulf countries, the Associated Press reported.
So far, the US and Israel have carried out coordinated strikes targeting Irani military leaders and nuclear program bosses.
The war was sparked by Israel killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28 with an air strike.
President Donald Trump has grown increasingly aggressive when asked about a timeline, saying Friday that he would continue fighting until Iran issues an “unconditional surrender.”
In a Truth Social post, he said the US would “work tirelessly to bring Iran back from the brink of destruction, making it economically bigger, better, and stronger than ever before.”
US leaders have suggested the Iran government either needs to be toppled entirely or led by someone who is personally approved by Trump.
It comes as…
- Trump gives Iran’s Kurds ‘air support’
- How Iran spreading attacks will pressure US
- Trump steps up attack on PM
- Moment Iran blitzes oil refinery
- Trump rules out dead Ayatollah’s son
- Britain to send 4 Typhoon jets
On Thursday, Trump warned the Iranian regime would face “guaranteed death” if they didn’t surrender, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said strikes would ramp up soon.
As the days drag on, the world’s supply of oil and natural gas remain at risk with experts fearing prices could soon skyrocket for Americans.
Qatar’s energy minister, Saad al-Kaabi told the Financial Times that an exports shutdown would “bring down the economies of the world.”
Six US troops have been killed in the firefight – while the death toll rises to 1,230 in Iran and 200 in Lebanon, according to officials in the respective countries.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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