In the early hours of June 13, Israel launched a major airstrike—dubbed “Operation Rising Lion”—on Iran’s nuclear and military facilities, including the Natanz enrichment site, deploying over 200 jets and drones. The strikes reportedly killed key military leaders and nuclear scientists. Iran retaliated with a barrage of drones, triggering partial airspace closures across the Middle East.
Commercial aviation has been disrupted—several airlines suspended flights to the region, and countries like Australia have begun updating travel advisories. Airspace restrictions over neighboring countries like Iraq and Jordan remain in flux.
The crisis hits pilgrimage tourism especially hard; Israel was seeing around 4,000–5,000 faith-based visitors daily. Continued conflict could severely impact regional tourism, particularly in sectors like events, pilgrimages, and transit hubs.
