The Defense Department is still actively involved in evacuating US citizens from Lebanon to Cyprus and points beyond, with the total number of evacuees standing at 12,870 as of July 25. Air Force and DOD charter flights have airlifted more than 6,000 as of July 25 and were expected to transport nearly 4,000 more Wednesday. A Pentagon news release states that US forces have evacuated about 13,000 since the crisis in Lebanon on July 16. US military forces also are continuing to deliver supplies to Lebanon to aid some 600,000 Lebanese nationals displaced by the fighting.
The six-week government shutdown did not affect the hours flown by Air Force pilots, a service spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine—avoiding what could have been a major blow at a time when flying hours are already lower than they have been in decades.
