The U.S. State Department said Today that more than 17,500 American citizens have safely returned to the United States from the Middle East since the start of the war, as the federal government continues efforts to assist citizens seeking to depart the region.

In a statement, Assistant Secretary Dylan Johnson said more than 8,500 Americans returned to the United States just on Tuesday alone. He said additional U.S. citizens have left the Middle East for other countries in Europe and Asia, such as Egypt and Turkey, while others have departed the region but remain in transit back to the United States.

Regarding American citizens stranded in Israel, U.S. ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said on Tuesday that options were “very limited” for those who wish to evacuate, adding that Americans who wish to leave can take a shuttle bus organized by Israel’s ministry of tourism to Taba, Egypt, and travel on from there.

Huckabee also said the embassy does not recommend travel through Jordan, “because of some challenges that are being faced there, the sporadic ability of the airport to be open, and the limited hours of the Allenby Crossing to get into Jordan.”

Through a 24/7 task force, the U.S. Department of State said it has assisted nearly 6,500 Americans abroad by providing security guidance and travel assistance.

“The U.S. State Department will continue to actively assist any American citizen abroad who wishes to depart the Middle East,” Johnson said.

The department urged Americans in the Middle East who need assistance to contact its 24-hour hotline at 1-202-501-4444.

The State Department said its task force remains operational around the clock to support U.S. citizens in the region.