Middle East Jobs & HR Watch: Iran–US escalation and travel risk: The US and Iran traded strikes for a seventh straight night, with the Strait of Hormuz fight driving oil-price spikes and prompting a fresh US travel warning to reconsider trips through the region. Civilian infrastructure hit: Kuwait reported a fire at a power and desalination plant after Iranian-linked attacks, while Iran said US strikes disrupted desalination and drinking water for thousands. Regional spillover on work and mobility: Flights were suspended at Erbil and Al-Sulaymaniyah airports after Iranian strikes, and Kuwait/Jordan/Bahrain air defenses reported intercepts of missiles and drones. Hiring and labor pressure: In Dubai, workers say the Iran war is shrinking job opportunities for migrants; in Kenya, aviation unions issued a 7-day strike notice over unpaid commitments in collective bargaining, threatening airport and cargo disruption. Iraq investment corridors: Iraq signed energy and pipeline-related deals with US firms, aiming to diversify exports away from Hormuz—an angle that could reshape future hiring in oil and logistics. Fraud and HR governance: Iraq’s integrity commission arrested municipal land-application officials over alleged document tampering and property-transfer fraud. Human trafficking crackdown: Ethiopian and Dubai police arrested traffickers accused of illegally moving 105 Ethiopians to Dubai and abusing victims. Renewables jobs pipeline: Egypt’s Red Sea governorate discussed a Norwegian-backed wind project expected to create thousands of jobs, with most roles for Egyptians.