By Blanca Escriche
Tampa, US, (EFE).- Nearly 160 United States citizens landed Tuesday at Tampa International Airport after evacuating from Israel amid intensifying conflict and missile attacks linked to Iran. The operation was part of a broader rescue effort that has already brought close to 2,000 people back to the United States.
Among the arrivals was Rachel Ghermiziam, a young student who had traveled to Israel with friends.
She was the first to emerge from the arrival gates, where friends and family greeted her with balloons and signs reading “Welcome back home.”
“Sometimes I got really nervous because the alarms kept going off,” she said, visibly relieved after the charter flight landed safely at 9:52 am local time.
Florida takes the lead
The evacuees, including Florida State Senator Jay Collins, traveled from Israel to Cyprus before boarding a chartered Omni Air International flight to Tampa.
The rescue was coordinated by the nonprofit Grey Bull Rescue Foundation (GBRF), with logistical and financial support from Florida’s state government.
“Today we helped another 160 Americans get home,” said Olivia Loughran, GBRF coordinator. “This is the fifth evacuation flight we’ve carried out so far, all arriving through Tama with help from the state.”
Senator Collins praised Florida’s Republican Governor Ron Desantis for leading the response, “The other 49 states haven’t taken a single step,” Collins said. “Florida showed what real leadership looks like.”
According to GBRF, approximately 2,000 people have now returned to the US through these operations, and another flight is currently en route.
Under fire during evacuation
The evacuation faced significant danger when a missile strike linked to Iran forced many passengers into shelters during the rescue process.
“People’s lives were truly at risk,” said Collins, describing how the group had to take cover during a large-scale air assault in Cyprus. “But we didn’t give up. We had to do the right thing, no matter how hard, and that’s exactly what Florida did.”
Loughran commented on the passengers’ resilience, calling it an “incredible display of composure and patience” during what she described as chaotic conditions.
“Those were difficult moments,” said Mariano Pérez, who had traveled to Israel with his family just days before the conflict escalated. “But we’re grateful to be back home.”
Pérez also expressed support for Donald Trump’s stance on the crisis. “It’s a good thing he’s protecting Israel, and protecting our values, which is what matters most.”
On Friday, another GBRF charter landed in Tampa, where Governor DeSantis personally welcomed the evacuees.
Flights continue as tensions escalate in Israel
Since United States Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee announced on social media that the State Department had initiated assisted departure flights, five charters carrying US citizens, permanent residents, and their immediate relatives have arrived in Florida.
Evacuations remain active and ongoing, according to GBRF officials, as the security situation in the region continues to deteriorate.
Tensions escalated sharply over the weekend after Trump authorized strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities, intensifying Israel’s military campaign against Tehran.
In response, the Trump administration raised the travel advisory for Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank to Level 4, urging US citizens to avoid travel due to the risk of “armed conflict, terrorism, and civil unrest.” EFE
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