Emirates has suspended all flights to and from Dubai following a drone-related fire at a local industrial zone. The immediate operational halt adds to severe regional aviation disruptions as airspace closures expand amid the escalating conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran.
The widespread airspace restrictions have resulted in the cancellation of 4,335 flights by Indian carriers and 1,187 by foreign airlines, according to figures released by Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu. The aviation crisis aligns with a broader geopolitical shock triggered by coordinated United States and Israeli military strikes on Iranian infrastructure that commenced on February 28, 2026.
Maritime logistics are also facing heavy restrictions. Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei stated that the armed forces actively control the Strait of Hormuz. Baghaei declared the waterway closed to nations seeking to launch attacks against Tehran, noting that civilian vessels will only be permitted passage under strict “special conditions.”
Despite the blockade, MarineTraffic reported that the first non-Iranian tanker successfully transited the Strait with its transponder active at 16:37 IST on Monday. The regional instability has severely impacted global energy markets, pushing Brent crude prices up 1.8 percent to $104.98 a barrel during early trading Monday.
A United States proposal to establish a naval coalition to force the Strait of Hormuz open has faced a muted international response, with nations including Australia and Japan officially declining to deploy warships. Concurrently, sweeping Israeli military strikes have targeted Tehran, Shiraz, and Tabriz. Strikes in Iran’s Markazi province have killed at least five people.
In response to the ongoing operations, Iran has designated United States logistics facilities supporting the USS Gerald Ford strike group as legitimate military targets.