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As Republican House members convened in South Florida to strategize for November’s midterm elections, Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) took a different path, traveling to the Middle East to assist with evacuation efforts amid the escalating U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.
Mace, who is running for governor in South Carolina, journeyed to the region on Sunday after learning that a family from her state was stranded in the conflict zone.
“When your people are stranded in a war zone, the only answer worthy of the office, worthy of our state, worthy of our country, is to get them out,” Mace said in a statement.
After successfully helping the South Carolina family return home safely, Mace remained in the region to continue evacuation efforts. She partnered with Grey Bull Rescue, a Tampa-based crisis response organization led by military veterans, to evacuate more American citizens caught in the crossfire.
The situation in the Middle East has become increasingly dire for tens of thousands of U.S. citizens attempting to leave the region following widespread flight cancellations and airspace closures resulting from Iranian counterstrikes. The travel disruptions have left many Americans scrambling for limited evacuation options.
Working with the State Department, Mace helped charter a flight for stranded Americans while Grey Bull Rescue provided logistical support for the rescue mission. On Wednesday night, Mace accompanied dozens of American families on a flight that successfully landed in Greece.
According to Mace, the operation evacuated 155 Americans, including 11 infants, from Israel as part of Grey Bull Rescue’s 808th mission. The organization reports having rescued 591 Americans from the region since the conflict began.
“They had the people but didn’t have the plane. I jumped in to assist,” Mace explained. “Tonight I am grateful. And I will never forget what I saw. What I learned. And the Americans who volunteered and who are serving our nation patriotically tonight.”
Bryan Stern, founder and chairman of Grey Bull Rescue, praised Mace’s hands-on involvement in the evacuation efforts. “Congresswoman Mace was fully embedded with our team, not to watch, but to work to save lives,” Stern told Fox News Digital. “While a core value of Grey Bull Rescue is to be absolutely apolitical we are always PROUD AMERICANS to see our elected officials fighting for their constituents.”
Grey Bull Rescue has established a track record of evacuating Americans from dangerous situations around the world. The volunteer organization has been operating in the Middle East since 2023, evacuating more than 300 Americans from Israel following the October 7 attack that year. The group has also recently helped Americans escape cartel violence in Mexico following the killing of a notorious drug lord in February, and facilitated the extraction of Nobel Peace Prize winner and Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado from Venezuela in 2025.
The State Department reports that over 43,000 Americans have departed the Middle East since Operation Epic Fury began on February 28, 2026. More than 27,000 of those individuals received direct assistance from the U.S. government in evacuating the region, according to a department spokesperson.
The crisis began escalating when the Trump administration advised Americans in 14 countries across the Middle East to “depart now” on February 2, following increased security threats in the region. Some Americans who were initially stranded have criticized the State Department for what they described as unclear communication and insufficient evacuation guidance as the situation deteriorated.
The evacuation efforts come at a critical time as regional tensions continue to mount, with many Americans caught in the uncertainty of a rapidly evolving conflict zone. Private organizations like Grey Bull Rescue have stepped in to fill gaps in the government response, working alongside officials like Rep. Mace to ensure Americans can return home safely from the increasingly volatile region.
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15 Comments
With flights cancelled and airspace closures, the evacuation of US citizens from the Middle East conflict zone must be incredibly challenging. Rep. Mace’s hands-on approach to help get people home safely is quite admirable. Diplomacy and de-escalation remain the top priority.
Absolutely. Diplomacy will be crucial to resolving this crisis and ensuring the safe return of all Americans caught in the crossfire.
It’s encouraging to see a member of Congress like Rep. Mace take such a proactive role in the evacuation of US citizens from the Middle East conflict zone. Her willingness to travel to the region and partner with crisis response teams demonstrates a strong commitment to constituent welfare.
This highlights the challenging situation facing US citizens in the Middle East right now. It’s good to see lawmakers like Rep. Mace taking a hands-on approach to help evacuate those in harm’s way. Diplomacy is crucial to de-escalate the broader tensions.
Agreed. Diplomatic solutions are needed to resolve this crisis and ensure the safe return of all Americans.
With the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East, the evacuation of US citizens has become a major logistical challenge. Rep. Mace’s decision to travel to the region and partner with crisis response teams to assist stranded Americans is a laudable course of action.
Interesting to see a member of Congress directly involved in evacuation efforts. It’s commendable that Rep. Mace took action to assist Americans stranded in the conflict zone. Hopefully the situation stabilizes soon so all can return home safely.
Given the deteriorating security situation, Rep. Mace’s decision to travel to the region and assist with evacuation efforts is quite commendable. Her willingness to get directly involved to help stranded constituents is an admirable display of leadership.
The escalating tensions in the Middle East have created a complex and dangerous situation for American citizens. It’s commendable that Rep. Mace took the initiative to get directly involved in evacuation operations. Her efforts to assist stranded families are praiseworthy.
The Middle East conflict has created a perilous situation for American citizens. Rep. Mace’s decision to get involved in evacuation operations is a laudable example of a lawmaker taking action to help those in distress. Hopefully her efforts can facilitate the safe return of more US citizens.
The escalating conflict in the Middle East has created a perilous situation for American citizens in the region. Rep. Mace’s efforts to directly engage in evacuation operations, rather than just issuing statements, demonstrate a commendable commitment to serving her constituents.
Agreed, Rep. Mace’s hands-on approach to assist stranded Americans is a praiseworthy example of a lawmaker taking decisive action to help those in distress.
Rep. Mace’s actions demonstrate a commitment to assisting constituents in distress, even in volatile foreign conflicts. It’s admirable that she traveled to the region to personally oversee evacuation efforts. Hopefully this helps bring more citizens home to safety.
It’s noteworthy that Rep. Mace chose to personally travel to the Middle East to assist with evacuation efforts, rather than just issuing statements from afar. Her hands-on approach to helping stranded Americans is commendable and demonstrates a commitment to serving constituents.
Agreed, Rep. Mace’s willingness to get directly involved in the evacuation efforts is an admirable display of leadership and constituent service.