Iranian fisherwoman describes how the US-Israel conflict has upended life on Hengang Island

In a first-person account, Khadijeh Bandari describes a life once built around fishing, a guesthouse and a restaurant on Hengam Island, which she shared with her husband and three-year-old son, Keyhan. The war that began in late February brought internet shutdowns, bomb explosions and the closure of the Hengam and Kandaloo piers, preventing boats from leaving and stopping tourist arrivals. As attacks continued, families fled to Qeshm Island, while others stayed despite the danger, gathering at a beach stall to share food and talk about the conflict.

The pier was later hit, killing three people and destroying homes and boats, leaving owners like Hava Arbabí, Aref Arbabi, Soheil Hormozi and Abutaleb Zarei without their primary assets. With fishing no longer safe, the island’s economy has stalled, forcing residents to rely on relatives and cope with constant uncertainty.