Governments around the world are rushing to organize the return of their citizens from the Middle East on Wednesday and air traffic seems to be picking up slightly as travel across the region remains heavily disrupted by the widening Iran war.

WASHINGTON, March 5 (Reuters) - The U.S. State ⁠Department ⁠said on Thursday it was ⁠ramping up charter flights from the Middle East after criticism over ​the Trump administration's planning and initial assistance to U.S. citizens trying to leave the region since the U.S.-Israeli ‌war on Iran began.

Although these flights don't always take travelers all the way home, they offer a crucial escape from limbo.

The plane was due to leave Oman on Wednesday but remained grounded due to problems getting passengers on board.

Investors will seek signs in the coming week of how sprawling the war in the Middle East will become and how much it will disrupt energy ​supplies, as they chew over fresh inflation data.

By Allison Lampert, Lisa Baertlein, Julie Zhu and Tim Hepher March 5 (Reuters) - Shipments ranging from ⁠fresh ⁠produce to airplane parts are in limbo as Middle ⁠East conflict squeezes cargo capacity and pushes up freight rates.

The logjam of passengers trapped by war in the Middle East is starting to clear as airlines schedule new services and governments rally charter flights to transport citizens to destinations outside the region.

Foreign governments are urging their citizens to leave on any available commercial flight as Gulf airspaces largely close, cruise ships can't pass through the Strait of Hormuz, and major airlines cancel flights.

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