Thousands Stranded at Middle East Airports Amid Iran-Israel Airspace Closures

The ongoing Iran-Israel conflict has caused significant disruptions and delays across multiple major airports and airlines, especially in the Middle East and South Asia. Temporary airspace closures by Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates resulted in the cancellation or rescheduling of hundreds of flights, stranding thousands of passengers at major hubs such as Doha, Dubai, and Dhaka. Airports in Doha and Dubai experienced severe congestion, with travelers facing long queues and extended waits, while airlines like Air India halted flights across the Gulf and rerouted flights from North America and Europe. Despite reopening airspace, the backlog of delayed and canceled flights continued, with airlines like Qatar Airways still working to restore normal operations. U.S. President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, urging both sides to respect it, but hostilities persisted, prolonging the travel chaos. Separately, train services on the Lumding–Silchar hill section in India have been suspended indefinitely due to a landslide, stranding passengers and further compounding regional travel disruptions.