As the fallout from the US-Israeli war with Iran spreads across the Middle East, major Western countries are trying to make arrangements to evict their citizens from the region.

Iran’s retaliation targeting US bases in the Middle East, Israel’s expansion of the war into Lebanon and the closure of airspace and airports across the region have created challenges for people trying to heed their governments’ advice to leave.

Here’s what some countries are doing to help their citizens in the Middle East:

United States

The country that started the war together seems to be scrambling just as much as the others.

The Trump administration faced criticism on Tuesday over its plans to protect Americans after the US told its citizens to leave more than a dozen countries in the Middle East but did not offer transportation.

The top American diplomat in Israel has told Americans that the best way to leave the country is to take a bus to Egypt.

“The US Embassy is not in a position at this time to evacuate or directly assist Americans in leaving Israel,” Ambassador Mike Huckabee wrote in posting on social networks.

He said the options for leaving Israel are “VERY LIMITED” and added, “We are praying (for) your safe passage!”

At the White House on Tuesday, a reporter asked US President Donald Trump why there was no evacuation plan.

“Well, because it all happened very quickly,” Trump replied, despite the fact that the US military buildup that led to the attack on Iran took place over weeks.

‘Active insurance’ of aircraft

Administration officials have since tried to clean up the communications and show that the U.S. has a plan to get citizens out.

“The State Department is actively providing military aircraft and charter flights for American citizens who wish to leave the Middle East,” Assistant Secretary of State Dylan Johnson said in post on X about an hour after Trump spoke.

In a press release, the State Department provided more details, saying it is allowing charter flights from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Jordan for US citizens.

“For those in countries where commercial aviation is not available, the department facilitates travel to third countries as conditions permit. This includes increasing ground transportation options for American citizens who wish to leave Israel,” the press release said.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that about 1,500 Americans had requested the US government’s help in leaving the Middle East, but said closing airports and airspace was a challenge.

“If the airport is attacked or the airspace is closed, then we can line up the planes to fly, but we can’t force them to land because we don’t have permission,” Rubio told reporters on Capitol Hill.

“But rest assured, we are confident that we will be able to help every American,” he said.

Canada

Global Affairs Canada says more than 97,000 Canadian citizens and permanent residents are registered in the Middle East. The UAE (about 25,000) and Lebanon (about 23,000) have the largest population.

The federal agency says there is little it can do right now to help Canadians leave the region.

“Prepare contingency plans that do not rely on Canadian government assistance for departure,” Global Affairs currently says on its travel tips for the countries of the Middle East.

However, Ottawa says it has secured a limited number of seats — which will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis — on Wednesday’s commercial flight from Beirut to Istanbul.

The Canadian Embassy in Israel mentioned a bus trip to Egypt as an option for The Canadian nationals want to go, but said they “can’t make any recommendation” for or against that method of transportation.

“Given the situation in the region, sheltering in place may be your safest option. If you want to leave, make sure you can do so safely,” said the embassy post on X.

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says the safety of Canadians in the region is “the government’s top priority.”

During an event Tuesday in Toronto, Anand said she has asked the Omani government to use the country’s airspace “if necessary” to help Canadian citizens get out of the Middle East.

France

Almost 400,000 French citizens are currently in the Middle East, according to French President Emmanuel Macron.

“We are organizing the repatriation of those who want to return, starting with the most vulnerable,” Macron said in a televised address to the nation on Tuesday. He said the first two flights would arrive in Paris on Tuesday night.

UK

More than 130,000 British citizens have registered with the government, British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said in the House of Commons on Tuesday.

Cooper said a charter flight will depart from Oman in the coming days with the “vulnerable” Brits getting the upper hand.