Airports close across the Mideast as the Israel-Iran conflict shutters the region’s airspace
BEIRUT — When Israeli strikes hit near the hotel where he was staying in Qom, Iran, Aimal Hussein, a 55-year-old Afghan businessman, found himself stranded. With Iranian airspace closed, he was unable to find a way back home.
Following the strike on Sunday, Hussein tried to flee to Tehran but faced challenges finding a taxi willing to take him to the border due to the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel.
Hussein described the situation, saying, “Flights, markets, everything is closed, and I am living in the basement of a small hotel. I am trying to get to the border by taxi, but they are hard to find, and no one is taking us.”
The conflict between Israel and Iran has resulted in a series of attacks that have disrupted air travel in the region. Many countries in the Middle East have closed their airspace, leading to stranded passengers and chaos at airports.
As the tension escalates, individuals like Zvika Berg, Mahala Finkleman, and Arsalan Ahmed find themselves caught in the crossfire, unable to travel or return home due to the closure of airports and the suspension of flights.
The conflict has also affected students, with individuals like Yahia al-Suraifi and Arsalan Ahmed facing uncertainty and fear as they navigate the challenges of being stranded in a foreign country.
Amid the chaos, the impact of the conflict on daily life and travel is evident, with individuals like Hussein reflecting on the hardships of war and conflict that have disrupted their lives.
Contributors to this report include journalists from Baghdad, Islamabad, Tel Aviv, Srinagar, Nicosia, and Richmond.
