U.S. Closes Embassies Amid Iran Drone Attacks; Israel Enters Lebanon

As tensions escalate in the Middle East, the U.S. has closed several embassies amid Iran’s drone attacks. This situation has prompted significant disruptions, affecting travelers around the globe, including Paralympic athletes.

Family Stranded Amid Iranian Airspace Closures

Michael Milton, an Australian Paralympic skier, is currently training for the Milan Cortina Paralympic Games. Meanwhile, his family is stuck at Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar. They were on a Qatar Airways flight to Venice when airspace closures due to the ongoing conflict forced them to turn back.

Milton’s family had already traveled for more than 30 hours, making their abrupt change of course particularly frustrating. “They left Doha, were in the air, and then turned around,” he stated in an interview. The family spent Saturday night at the airport before transferring to a hotel the following day.

Hope for a Timely Arrival

Despite the uncertainty surrounding their travel plans, Milton remains hopeful that his family will reach Italy before the Paralympic Games commence this Friday. “The hard thing for them — and for me — was that they’d already traveled a long way,” he said. The situation, however, is out of his control.

Impact of the Conflict on the Paralympic Games

This is not the first time Milton has faced challenges related to geopolitical tensions during his career. The six-time Paralympian remarked, “This is the second time the Olympic Truce has been violated.” He recalled his experience during the 2014 Sochi Olympics when the invasion of Crimea occurred.

The current conflict has breached the symbolic Olympic Truce, which calls for a cessation of military actions until March 15. This violation occurred amid ongoing airstrikes by the U.S. and Israel against Iran, provoking retaliatory strikes from Tehran.

Response from the Paralympic Committee

The Paralympic Committee is closely monitoring the situation. In a statement, they assured that they are in regular contact with all competing delegations. While many teams are presently training in Europe, the closure of Middle Eastern airspace has affected others’ travel plans.

“We are diligently working with Milano Cortina 2026 to find solutions for those affected,” the committee noted. The focus remains on ensuring all participants can arrive safely and on time for the Games.