Florida Senator Jay Collins to Help Evacuate Americans from Bomb-Barraged Israel

A top Florida Republican in contention to be the next Lieutenant Governor has flown to Israel to help evacuate trapped Americans, prompted by the barrage of bombs exchanged between Israel and Iran in a rapid escalation of Middle Eastern tensions.

Sen. Jay Collins, a former Green Beret representing parts of Tampa, announced Sunday that he was "en route" to Israel to help the state of Florida and a veteran non-profit bring as many as 4,000 Americans back to the U.S.

Collins's social media announcement came hours before Florida's emergency response team said they were also coordinating evacuation efforts.

"I am en route to Israel to assist the State of Florida and Grey Bull Rescue with evacuation efforts," Collins posted at around 9:00 a.m. on Father's Day, linking to where Americans in need of evacuation can register for rescue.

Collins's legislative aide, Amanda Suarez, told The Floridian via text message that the Senator has "no determined return date."

Grey Bull Rescue is a Tampa-based nonprofit led by veterans to assist in various evacuation efforts nationwide. Founder Bryan Stern told ABC Action News that his organization has rescued more than 7,000 people since 2021 in various war-torn countries.

Stern's current Israeli operation is comprised of 140 Navy Seals, U.S. Marshals, Secret Service, Green Berets, CIA agents, and other veterans with one rule: "We don't get to come home until they come home," Stern told ABC. "So we buy one-way tickets."

Alongside Collins and Grey Bull Rescue, the Florida Division of Emergency Management has also launched efforts to return Americans stuck in Israel, they revealed Sunday. This is not the first time the state under Gov. Ron DeSantis has deployed overseas resources.

After Oct. 7, 2023, when the militant group Hamas ambushed, murdered, and kidnapped scores of Israelis, DeSantis approved flights to Israel that brought nearly 300 Americans back to the U.S. DeSantis later charted flights to Haiti, when the Caribbean nation battled prison breaks and rampant gang violence, evacuating nearly 200 Americans back to the mainland U.S.

Israel launched a surprise attack Thursday on Iran, taking out a slew of military generals and nuclear scientists in targeted bombings. Iran responded with a barrage of missiles on Tel Aviv. As the Middle Eastern powerhouses enter the fourth day of conflict, Iran has suffered 224 deaths compared to Israel's 24.

Overnight, CNN reported, Iran struck an Israeli oil refinery.

Collins, 47, has been floated as a top contender to become Florida's next Lieutenant Governor. The speculation comes months after former LG Jeanette Nuñez left the post to join Florida International University as its president, and after DeSantis said he would fill the vacant spot after the legislative session.

Collins has said it's a role he would be "open" to.

The Florida session, which has exceeded 100 days as lawmakers hammer out a budget for the upcoming fiscal year, will end Monday night.