Airlines face disruptions that surpass previous Middle East conflicts

Airlines face disruptions that surpass previous Middle East conflicts

Airlines are grappling with aviation disruptions that industry analysts say go far beyond previous flare ups in the Middle East.

Large sections of airspace across one of the world’s busiest global flight corridors have been closed for days, forcing carriers to reroute or suspend services. More than 11,000 flights have been cancelled, affecting an estimated 1.5 million passengers.

Major airport hubs in the region have also been targeted by Iranian missile and drone strikes, compounding the disruption and creating one of the most significant aviation crises in recent years.

Rubio warns hardest US strikes yet to come as toll rises

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the “hardest hits are yet to come” from the American military, as Washington deepens its involvement in the escalating conflict. President Donald Trump has described the operation as the “last best chance to strike” Iran and indicated it could last four to five weeks, while six U.S. troops have now been killed and more casualties are expected. The Pentagon says additional forces are being deployed to the Middle East.

Iran’s security chief says Tehran will not negotiate with the United States. More than 500 Iranians have been killed in U.S. and Israeli strikes, according to the Red Crescent, while Lebanon reports 31 deaths from Israeli attacks. Additional fatalities have been reported in Israel and the UAE as missile and drone exchanges continue.

An Iranian commander has warned that ships attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz would be set ablaze, and a U.S. flagged fuel tanker was struck at the port of Bahrain. European natural gas prices and global oil markets have surged amid fears the conflict will disrupt critical energy supplies.

Trump says Iran posed ‘colossal threat’ as strikes continue

President Donald Trump says Iran posed a “colossal threat” to the United States, defending military action on the grounds that Tehran refused to halt its pursuit of nuclear weapons.

In his first live remarks since the conflict began, Trump said Iran’s conventional ballistic missile programme was expanding rapidly and posed a clear danger to U.S. forces stationed overseas. He said large scale combat operations were continuing and insisted Iran could not be allowed to arm and direct groups beyond its borders.

Trump added that the United States was substantially ahead of projections for what had been described as a four to five week campaign, but said the military had the capability to continue operations for much longer if required.

ADF personnel safe after drone strike on UAE air base

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles says an air base used by the Australian Defence Force was struck by drones over the weekend, but confirmed all Australian personnel are safe and accounted for.

Marles said Al Minhad air base, located outside Dubai and operated by the United Arab Emirates Air Force, was targeted on the first night of the escalation. The base has hosted Australian personnel for many years.

He said more than 100 Australian service members are currently deployed across the Middle East, with most based in the UAE, describing Al Minhad as a key hub for Australia’s regional operations.

Energy stocks surge as oil jumps on Hormuz fears

Energy prices have surged as investors factor in the risk of a broader Middle East conflict, sending oil markets sharply higher in early trade.

U.S. crude was up about 7.2% at 8:15 a.m. ET, trading near $71.84 a barrel, while global benchmark Brent rose 7.8% to around $78.63. Traders are closely watching the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most critical energy chokepoint.

Although the waterway has not been formally closed, tanker traffic has slowed significantly amid rising war risk insurance premiums and shipping suspensions. JPMorgan warns that if disruptions last more than three weeks, Gulf producers may run out of storage capacity and be forced to cut output, potentially pushing Brent into the $100 to $120 range.