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 traveled to the region after leading a group trip in nearby Saudi Arabia last month.
The 37-year-old posted on Instagram on Saturday (February 28), saying she had just arrived in Kuwait when reports emerged of escalating hostilities involving the US, Israel and Iran.
President Donald Trump said the US and Israel had carried out joint strikes on Iran, which he claimed killed the country’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei.
Iran then responded with retaliatory attacks aimed at US interests around the Gulf, with Kuwait City and Kuwait International Airport among the locations reportedly affected.
“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.
By Tuesday (March 3), she told followers that she and her group were leaving Kuwait overland after commercial flights were reportedly canceled. “We are all very scared to make this journey!” she wrote.
She also criticized official support, alleging that assistance channels were not providing actionable guidance.
“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!!”
On Monday (March 2), the US Department of State Consular Affairs issued a DEPART NOW advisory covering US citizens in 14 Middle Eastern countries and regions, including Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Israel.
In a further update on Wednesday (March 4), Ramos said she and her travel companions had successfully made it out of Kuwait—an ordeal she described as among the most frightening situations she has faced while traveling.
According to her account, the group drove for around eight hours across Saudi Arabia toward Riyadh Airport, only for operations there to be disrupted while she was already on board.
“As I finally boarded my flight out, they stopped boarding and announced the airport was closing due to imminent danger overhead,” she wrote.
“For an hour I sat in the dark plane wondering if we would be struck by a missile or drone…”
She said the flight—bound for Cairo, Egypt—eventually departed. “I am safely OUT!!! And on my way home!” she 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!”
Separately, six US soldiers have reportedly been killed so far in the Iran conflict after an Iranian ‘unmanned aircraft system’ struck a US command center in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, last Sunday (March 1).
A source told CNN the attack happened without warning or sirens at around 9am local time.
Officials said parts of the building were still burning hours later.
On Wednesday, the Pentagon identified four of those killed.
They were named as 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.”