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Stranded Americans across the Middle East say they’ve been left to navigate flight cancellations and confusing government guidance on their own. They expressed frustration with the State Department's directions to “depart now” on commercial flights even though much of the airspace across the Gulf remains closed or heavily restricted. Some have reported relying instead on WhatsApp group chats and friends. Since the war began on Feb. 28, about 20,000 Americans have returned safely to the U.S. The State Department said Thursday that nearly all made it out on their own. The White House pushed back on criticism that the U.S. response has been too slow. The first U.S.-organized charter flight departed the region Wednesday.