A U.S.-Israel military campaign against Iran escalated Saturday, triggering retaliatory strikes across the region and prompting new airspace restrictions that are disrupting civilian travel.
As governments move into emergency posture and commercial routes narrow, Tampa-based Grey Bull Rescue says it has positioned operators in multiple Middle Eastern countries to prepare for possible evacuations of Americans.
In a Feb. 28 statement distributed by email, the veteran-led nonprofit said its teams are “boots-on-ground” and “setting conditions for mass evacuations of Americans” as flight options contract.
Regional travel disruptions can escalate quickly when airspace closes or airlines suspend service, as airports halt departures, borders tighten and overflight corridors shift with little notice, leaving travelers who planned routine departures facing delays or cancellations.
Grey Bull said exit routes are narrowing.
“Safe exit routes are disappearing fast,” the organization wrote. “Airspace is closing all over the region.”
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The group said it has operators and assets positioned in Israel, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia and is “surging additional resources, manpower, ground assets and aircraft” into the region.
Grey Bull did not disclose how many Americans have requested assistance, whether evacuations are underway or what coordination, if any, is occurring with U.S. officials.
As of Saturday evening, the State Department had not issued a mandatory evacuation order for all U.S. citizens in the region, though it did direct the departure of non-essential personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Beirut and issued security alerts for Americans abroad.
The nonprofit said donations fund aircraft costs and fuel, ground logistics and security, intelligence support, secure communications and medical evacuation planning.
Who is Bryan Stern?
Bryan Stern is the founder of Grey Bull Rescue, a Tampa-headquartered, donor-funded nonprofit that specializes in evacuating Americans and allies from high-risk environments.
Stern previously served in U.S. special operations and intelligence roles and has said he built Grey Bull to operate quickly and with minimal bureaucracy when traditional evacuation channels stall.
In prior interviews with Tampa Bay Business & Wealth, Stern has emphasized discretion and small operational footprints.
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“We’re usually the last resort,” he said in December, discussing a separate mission.
Grey Bull reports completing more than 800 missions globally, including operations in Afghanistan, Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Venezuela.
A Tampa-based operation in a fluid region
Saturday’s escalation represents one of the most direct confrontations among Iran, Israel and the United States in decades. Military exchanges and retaliatory threats have raised concerns about broader regional instability.
For civilians and expatriates, the immediate issue is access, since commercial aviation remains the primary evacuation pathway in most crises.
Commercial aviation remains the primary evacuation pathway in most crises. When that pathway constricts, governments may issue advisories, charter aircraft or coordinate military-assisted departures.
Private operators sometimes move in parallel, particularly for individuals who do not qualify for government extraction or who seek independent arrangements.
Grey Bull’s announcement places the Tampa-based nonprofit within that space.
Whether broader evacuations become necessary will depend on how the conflict evolves in the coming days. For now, Grey Bull says it is positioned in-country should conditions deteriorate further.
For more information about Grey Bull Rescue, visit its website.
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