War disrupts life on the Iraq‑Iran border, isolating families and stifling trade - AP News

Ongoing conflict has severely disrupted civilian life along the Iraq-Iran border, separating families who have lived in cross-border communities and disrupting long-established trade networks that sustained local economies. The border region, historically characterized by porous movement and commercial exchange despite political tensions between the two nations, has become increasingly militarized and restricted. Communities that depended on cross-border commerce and family ties now face economic hardship and deepened isolation as movement between the countries has been curtailed. The disruption has created humanitarian challenges for residents caught between the conflict, many of whom have relatives or business interests on both sides of the border. The situation underscores how regional wars reshape civilian life far beyond front-line combat zones, with ordinary people bearing the economic and social costs of geopolitical conflict.