The United States has completed over a dozen charter flights and evacuated thousands of Americans from the Middle East since last week, the U.S. State Department said on Saturday.

The Trump administration has faced criticism over its planning and initial assistance to U.S. citizens trying to leave the region since U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran began last Saturday, with the Iranians responding with attacks on neighboring countries, sparking airspace closures.

The State Department said it was boosting charter flight and ground transport operations in the region as security conditions allow.

—

(Reporting by Bhargav Acharya in Toronto; Editing by Sergio NonEditing by Tomasz Janowski)