In a stark firsthand account, Shafiqul Islam stepped off his Oman-Dhaka flight to detail the Gulf’s unraveling aviation network. Escalating Iran-West hostilities have axed most flights to key Gulf hubs, sparking widespread alarm among expatriates.
“Tensions are sky-high; families like mine lived in dread,” Islam shared. Yet Oman’s internal peace holds firm. Iran’s wrath targets Gulf countries sheltering U.S. forces—UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia—all now under drone and missile siege, airports locked tight.
Brother Mohammad Jasim Uddin couldn’t hide his joy: “Big brother made it back safe. Pure relief after hearing nonstop attack reports.”
It began with U.S.-Israel precision strikes felling Supreme Leader Khamenei and kin—daughter, grandson, son-in-law—per Iran’s Fars agency. Mourning declared, retaliation swift and savage.
Bangladeshi travelers vented frustrations. Shakeel Khan’s evening Qatar-Saudi flight vanished; no rescheduling info, desks deserted. Sohail Rana, on his virgin voyage to Saudi via Oman, paces nervously.
Enter global statesmanship: Modi’s hotline chat with Netanyahu stressed civilian protection and de-escalation, tweeted for public eyes.
Beyond travel havoc, oil prices spike, remittances falter, economies wobble. The Gulf’s expatriate army—millions strong—braces for prolonged turmoil as tit-for-tat violence risks wider war.