On 28 February 2026, the United States and Israel conducted military strikes in Iran. Several Iranian leaders were killed in the strikes; early on March 1, Iranian state media confirmed that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had been killed, and declared 40 days of mourning and a seven-day national holiday
The coordinated U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran have caused severe, immediate disruptions to transportation and logistics across the Middle East, with significant impacts on global trade routes. The conflict has halted air traffic, closed key shipping lanes, and driven up energy-related transport costs.
It has triggered the most severe disruption to global air travel since the COVID-19 pandemic. Thousands of flights have been cancelled, hundreds of thousands of passengers have been stranded and major international hubs remain largely paralyzed due to direct missile strikes and widespread airspace closures
The attack has caused an effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to intense maritime security risks and Iranian retaliation. While the waterway is not officially blocked by a physical barrier, shipping traffic has plummeted by approximately 70%.