Middle East conflict throws religious pilgrimages into chaos

The escalation of conflict in the Middle East has sent shock waves through global air travel, leaving religious pilgrims bound for holy sites in limbo during Ramadan, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting that also includes Umrah, a highly popular pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. As US and Israeli strikes continue to disrupt the region, key transit airports have faced severe restrictions and flight cancellations due to closures of several airspace.