The Middle East is a region of intense beauty and ancient kingdoms. It has also repeatedly endured periods of geopolitical instability over many centuries.

Global air traffic has been disrupted following Israel’s strikes on Iran Friday, with several major airlines suspending flights to and from locations in the Middle East and rerouting their planes to avoid much of the region’s airspace.

Airlines are scrambling to reroute as escalating disruptions shut down skies over Israel, Iran, Iraq, and Jordan—causing widespread cancellations and delays . UAE flights cancelled amid Middle East airspace shutdown .