International
US-Iran Conflict Grounds Thousands of Flights, Sparks Global Travel Disruption
Global air travel faced severe disruption on Sunday as escalating hostilities between the United States and Iran forced the closure of key Middle Eastern airspace, stranding thousands of passengers and triggering widespread flight cancellations.
Major transit hubs including Dubai International Airport, one of the world’s busiest international gateways, remained shut for a second consecutive day following U.S. and Israeli air strikes that reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. Airports in Abu Dhabi, Doha and Kuwait were also either closed or operating under severe restrictions after retaliatory Iranian missile attacks targeted parts of the Gulf.
Loud explosions were reported near Dubai and over Doha as Iranian forces launched counterstrikes, marking a dramatic escalation of tensions across the region.
Airlines Suspend Operations
Emirates Airline announced the suspension of all operations to and from Dubai until at least Monday, citing safety concerns. Qatar Airways also halted its services, while Germany’s Lufthansa extended its flight suspension to the region by another week.
Airspace over Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Israel, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar remained largely empty, according to flight tracking data. A pilot bulletin extended the closure of Iranian airspace until at least March 3, though aviation sources warned the disruption could last longer depending on developments on the ground.
Flight analytics firm Cirium estimated that approximately 4,000 flights had been scheduled to land in the region on Sunday alone, underscoring the scale of the disruption.
Passengers Stranded Worldwide
The ripple effects were felt far beyond the Middle East. Tens of thousands of travellers across Asia and Europe were left stranded as airlines cancelled or rerouted flights to avoid restricted airspace.
At Frankfurt Airport, passengers attempting to connect through Dubai scrambled to rebook cancelled flights. Long queues were also reported at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport and Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, where departure boards displayed a growing list of cancellations.
In Nepal, Tribhuvan International Airport recorded numerous flight suspensions linked to the Middle East closures.
Industry analysts described the situation as one of the most significant aviation shocks in recent years. Dubai and Doha serve as critical east-west transit corridors, funnelling long-haul traffic between Europe and Asia through tightly scheduled connecting networks. With those hubs idle, aircraft and crews were left out of position, compounding logistical challenges for global carriers.
Broader Economic Impact
The Gulf region is also a key hub for international air cargo, raising concerns about supply chain disruptions and added pressure on global trade routes already strained by maritime insecurity.
Airlines have been forced to reroute flights through narrower air corridors, increasing flight times and fuel costs. The closure of Iranian and Iraqi airspace has further complicated operations, particularly after carriers had already adjusted routes to avoid Russian and Ukrainian airspace following the war in Ukraine.
Aviation experts warned that any further escalation, including potential airspace closures linked to rising tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, could severely impact travel between Europe and Asia.
Air India joined several global carriers in cancelling Sunday departures from Delhi, Mumbai and Amritsar to major European and North American cities, highlighting the widening geographic reach of the crisis.
Uncertain Outlook
Airline executives said pilots and crew members were now scattered worldwide due to abrupt cancellations, complicating efforts to restore normal operations once airspace reopens.
Analysts cautioned that the risk of prolonged disruption remains high, depending on the trajectory of the conflict.
With Middle Eastern airspace serving as a critical artery for global aviation, the ongoing crisis has exposed the vulnerability of international travel networks to geopolitical shocks leaving passengers, airlines and global supply chains bracing for further uncertainty.
A shocking breach of protocol occurred during the secret conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV last May, a new book by veteran Vatican reporters reveals.
As 133 cardinals gathered in the Sistine Chapel for their first vote, which is typically safeguarded by signal-jamming equipment to prevent outside communications, security officials detected an active mobile phone signal inside the chapel.
In a scene the authors describe as “unimaginable even for a film,” one of the older cardinals discovered a cellphone in his pocket and handed it over to security. The book, The Election of Pope Leo XIV, does not identify the cardinal or suggests he had any motive for carrying the phone but notes he was “disoriented and distressed” by the incident.
The incident is unprecedented in the history of modern papal conclaves, which require cardinals to relinquish all communication devices to ensure the election process remains secret.
Pope Leo XIV, elected on the fourth ballot with 108 votes, became the first pope from the United States. The revelation of this security lapse provides a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into one of the world’s most secretive religious events.
International
Exiled Iranian Prince Backs U.S.-Israel Strikes, Urges Citizens to Rise Against Regime
Exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has endorsed the ongoing joint U.S.-Israeli military strikes on Iran, describing them as a form of “humanitarian intervention” aimed at dismantling the country’s ruling clerical establishment.
In a strongly worded statement released on social media, Pahlavi characterized the strikes as long-promised assistance to the Iranian people rather than an attack on the nation itself. He framed the operation as targeting what he called the Islamic Republic’s “repressive apparatus” and not the Iranian population.
“The aid that the President of the United States promised to the brave people of Iran has now arrived,” Pahlavi wrote. “This is a humanitarian intervention; its target is the Islamic Republic, not the country and great nation of Iran.”
Pahlavi also praised U.S. President Donald Trump, thanking him for what he described as support for Iranians seeking change. However, he urged Washington to take every possible precaution to minimize civilian casualties.
Calling the current moment a turning point, the exiled prince declared that the Islamic Republic was “collapsing” and appealed directly to Iran’s military, police, and security forces to withdraw their loyalty from Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
“You have sworn an oath to protect Iran and its people, not a regime that has held the country hostage,” he stated, warning that those who remain aligned with the leadership risk “going down with Khamenei’s sinking ship.”
Pahlavi stopped short of calling for immediate nationwide demonstrations but suggested that large-scale protests could resume soon. He advised citizens to remain alert and await what he described as the “appropriate time” to return to the streets.
“Moments of destiny lie ahead,” he said, expressing confidence that Iranians themselves would ultimately determine the country’s future. “We are very close to final victory.”
He further indicated that he would continue communicating with supporters even if authorities attempted to restrict internet or satellite services measures previously employed during periods of unrest.
Pahlavi’s remarks echo past opposition efforts to encourage defections within Iran’s security establishment, a factor analysts say could prove decisive in shaping the country’s political trajectory amid escalating tensions.
Iran’s President, Masoud Pezeshkian, on Sunday announced that a new leadership council has officially begun operations following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
In a prerecorded message broadcast on Iranian state television, Pezeshkian said the council had “begun its work,” signalling the start of a political transition at the highest level of the Islamic Republic.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, told Al Jazeera that a new supreme leader is expected to be selected within “one or two days,” suggesting an expedited process amid mounting regional tensions.
The leadership transition comes as violence escalates between Iran and Israel. A massive explosion struck Tehran on Sunday, with the Israeli military stating it was targeting strategic sites in central parts of the capital.
Earlier in the day, Iran launched missile attacks against an expanding list of targets in Israel and several Gulf Arab states, describing the strikes as retaliation.
The rapid political developments and intensifying military exchanges have heightened fears of a broader regional confrontation in the Middle East.