Featured Image Credit: AFP via Getty Images
Topics: World News, US News, Iran, Israel
Ellie Kemp
An American travel blogger who was stuck in Kuwait has detailed how she managed to 'self-evacuate' from the country after claiming the US government was 'no help.'
Alyssa Ramos had been in the Middle East after hosting a group trip in neighboring Saudi Arabia last month.
The 37-year-old took to Instagram on Saturday (February 28), where she shared that she'd just landed in Kuwait and heard news of strikes between the US and Israel and Iran
President Donald Trump announced the two countries had launched joint strikes on Iran, killing their Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei
Advert
Iran launched retaliation strikes, targeting US interests in the Gulf, including Kuwait City and the Kuwait International Airport.
"We could hear the missiles flying through the airspace overhead, one of the scariest things I’ve encountered on my travels and even scarier because I’m here with 5 of my travel friends," Alyssa said in her first video update.
On Tuesday (March 3), she confirmed she and her group were 'self evacuating by land,' after flights had been canceled. "We are all very scared to make this journey!” she candidly admitted.
"We have had no help from the US gov, the STEP (Smart Traveler Enrolement Program) has not helped, I’ve called the embassy and consulate and they only repeat the general messages from STEP, and now finally a few hours ago the gov posted on IG for everyone to get out immediately (but didn’t send us emails or messages)," she added.
"It is so infuriating that the gov can spend billions on hate-fueled war, and blatantly say they know lives will be lost, and then do nothing to help us get away from the danger they created!!"
The US Department of State Consular Affairs issued a DEPART NOW advisory for US citizens in 14 countries and regions across the Middle East on Monday (March 2), including Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Israel and others.
In an update on Wednesday (March 4), she confirmed she and her group had been able to evacuate Kuwait - a trek she described as one of the most terrifying travel situations she's ever been in.
The group had to drive eight hours out through the Saudi desert to Riyadh Airport, which shut down while she was on the plane.
"As I finally boarded my flight out, they stopped boarding and announced the airport was closing due to imminent danger overhead," she added in her caption.
"For an hour I sat in the dark plane wondering if we would be struck by a missile or drone…"
Fortunately, the plane - heading for Cairo, Egypt - eventually took off. "I am safely OUT!!! And on my way home!" Alyssa added.
"But it’s not over for me, I’m still trying to help almost 1000 people in the group chats I made to help people do this land evacuation who also all say the gov won’t help!"
UNILAD has contacted the US Department of State for comment.
Six US soldiers have died in the Iran conflict so far after an Iranian ‘unmanned aircraft system’ hit a US command centre in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait last Sunday (March 1).
A source told CNN the attack came with no warning or sirens around 9am local time.
Parts of the building continued to burn hours after the strike.
Yesterday, the Pentagon named four of the soldiers who were killed.
These are Capt Cody Khork, 35, Sgt Noah Tietjens, 42, Sgt Nicole Amor, 39, and Sgt Declan Coady, 20.
Lt. Gen. Robert Harter, Chief of Army Reserve and Commanding General U.S. Army Reserve Command, said: “On behalf of the Army Reserve, we express our heartfelt condolences to their families and loved ones.
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to honoring the legacy of our fallen and supporting their teammates and families during this difficult time.”