Gov. DeSantis was at Tampa International Airport early Friday morning to greet passengers on two rescue flights.

Republican state senator and former Green Beret joins a separate mission to help thousands more Americans escape escalating Middle East conflict.

TAMPA, Fla. ( WFLA) – Americans fleeing the deadly conflict between Israel and Iran are heading back to the U.S. thanks, in part, to Florida officials. Early Wednesday, a cruise ship transported roughly 1,500 people from Israel to Cyprus. From there, some boarded a plane bound for Tampa.