Veteran Nonprofit Rescues Americans Amidst Middle East Crisis

Veteran-Led Nonprofit Evacuates Dozens of Americans from Middle East Conflict Zones

A veteran-led nonprofit organization, Grey Bull Rescue, has successfully evacuated dozens of American citizens from the volatile Middle East, providing a critical lifeline amidst escalating regional tensions. The organization, founded and chaired by Brian Stern, has been fielding hundreds of calls from Americans stranded in conflict zones, ranging from students on study abroad programs to tourists and individuals visiting family.

Grey Bull Rescue: A Mission of Evacuation

Grey Bull Rescue operates under a straightforward mission: to rescue and evacuate American citizens anytime, anywhere, and under any circumstances. This principle has guided the organization through over 805 missions, with a significant number of these operations taking place in the Middle East, including in countries like Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Gaza, and even Iran. The current situation in the Middle East, however, presents a unique and complex challenge.

“Each of these war zones have their own kind of flavor to them. This one is very unique because it’s so wide. Normally, there’s a country that’s being held at risk where the airspace is closed or getting attacked, or what have you. It’s Russia attacking Ukraine or a hurricane in Jamaica. It tends to be very singular.”

– Brian Stern, Chairman and Founder, Grey Bull Rescue

Unprecedented Scope and Complexity

Unlike previous operations that often focused on a single country with a specific threat, such as a closed airspace or a localized conflict, the current Middle East crisis involves operations across multiple countries. These nations are simultaneously experiencing closed airspaces, complicated border situations, and are under missile and drone attack. This expansive and multifaceted operational environment stretches Grey Bull Rescue’s resources and logistical capabilities in ways they have not encountered before.

“The operating environment tends to be one country with contested airspace or contested borders or conflict or what have you. That’s very much what we’re used to. At present, we’re doing operations in multiple countries that have closed airspace, complicated borders, and taking missile fire and drone attack and the rest. So the scope and the stretch that we’re having to make just ensure geography is a very different kind of experience than what we’ve done in the past,” Stern explained.

Prioritizing Aid: The “American” Litmus Test

With a constant influx of requests and limited financial resources, Grey Bull Rescue adheres to a clear and simple criteria for assistance. “Our litmus test is when somebody calls us for help, it’s are you an American, yes or no? As long as you say yes, we spike. That’s pretty much it,” Stern stated. The organization also verifies if the individuals have sought help from other avenues, such as the embassy or the State Department, before stepping in.

However, the ability to help is fundamentally constrained by funding. “As long as funding holds out, we’ll continue to run buses and airplanes and helicopters and boats and all the different things that we do. But they’re not our boats. They’re not our airplanes. They’re not our helicopters. They’re not our buses. We charter these things,” Stern elaborated. The organization is currently stretched financially, having recently completed a mission rescuing Americans from Mexico during cartel wars.

A Call for Support

The urgency and scale of the ongoing evacuations underscore the critical need for public support. Grey Bull Rescue relies on donations to fund its operations, which involve chartering aircraft, buses, and other transportation methods. The organization emphasizes that every contribution directly enables them to bring more Americans home safely.

“Please donate, everybody. We need your help.”

– Brian Stern

Looking Ahead

As the situation in the Middle East remains fluid and unpredictable, Grey Bull Rescue is poised to continue its vital work. The organization’s commitment to rescuing American citizens, coupled with its extensive experience in complex international operations, positions it as a crucial asset. The coming weeks will likely see continued efforts to evacuate those in peril, with the organization’s capacity to operate being directly tied to the financial support it receives from the public.

Source: Veteran-led nonprofit evacuates dozens of Americans from Middle East (YouTube)