Americans in Danger Need a Safe Way Home

On Tuesday, I landed in Tel Aviv, Israel with my team of U.S. military veterans. My mission: to evacuate American citizens from the developing conflict in Israel and Lebanon, take them out of harm’s way and if possible, return them to safety in the United States.

As a veteran of the United States Army and Army Reserves, I have seen first-hand the harrowing realities that Americans face when they are abroad and caught in the crossfire. As Russia and Iran have proven, Americans are lucrative hostages, and Iran isn’t the only country that has made “Death to America” part of its personal brand.

That means when Americans are in harm’s way, they need a way out fast. Sometimes, however, Americans don’t have the resources to extract themselves – which is where Project DYNAMO comes in.

From America’s evacuation of troops in Afghanistan to the ongoing war in Ukraine, our team has rescued thousands of American citizens from the world’s most dangerous conflict zones. Today, we are once again called into action as the situation in Israel and Lebanon deteriorates with alarming speed.

The United States, through its U.S. State Department, along with the United Kingdom, France, Jordan, and Turkey have already issued stark warnings for their citizens to leave Lebanon as soon as possible, which was our signal to mobilize.

I lead a Project DYNAMO team composed of military veterans, intelligence professionals, and seasoned crisis responders who have the skills to find our targets and get them out safely.

The mission we are embarking on is dangerous, but the stakes are too high for us to stand by. The volatile situation in Lebanon, compounded by the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran, has created a situation where the lives of American citizens are at significant risk. Terrorists don’t care who their rockets kill, and it’s up to us to ensure that no Americans are endangered simply because they didn’t have a clean way to get back home.

Inaction is not an option.

It wasn’t an option when I led counterterrorism operations in Central America alongside US intelligence agencies, at the Guatemalan Secretariat of Strategic Intelligence.

It wasn’t an option in 2005 when Louisianans needed help escaping the catastrophic Hurricane Katrina.

It wasn’t an option in 2021 when U.S forces were pulled out of Afghanistan and the United States government left our troops stranded.

It wasn’t an option when US and European citizens needed help to escape from a collapsing government in Haiti.

It isn’t an option now.

Project DYNAMO has a proven track record of executing high-risk, high-impact missions in the most challenging conditions. Every mission we undertake is guided by a simple but profound principle: no American should be left behind – ever. This is not just a slogan; it is the driving force behind everything we do. It is why we volunteer to put our lives on the line.

After Hamas terrorists invaded Israel on October 7, 2023, Project DYNAMO leaped into action, rescuing more than 370 American citizens from Israel in the following days. Our experience then led us to believe that there are Americans who still need our help in the region.

Our mission is underway, but we cannot complete it alone. Whether through donations, raising awareness, or simply spreading the word that our registration page is open, your actions can make a difference.

Together, we can ensure that no American is left behind.

I urge all Americans in Israel and Lebanon to reach out to Project DYNAMO and register for assistance. The window for safe evacuation is narrowing, but regardless of the situation, we will not leave you behind, and we will come for you.

This mission will not be easy, but we are ready. We have done it before and we will do it again. The safety of our fellow Americans depends on it.

Mario Duarte is the President and CEO of Project DYNAMO and is an internationally recognized intelligence, national security, and crisis management expert with more than 25 years of experience.