Airstrikes Disrupt Fishing Livelihoods and Force Evacuations on Iran’s Hengam Island

Military strikes targeting the southern coastline of Iran have severely disrupted daily life and coastal livelihoods on Hengam Island, according to a local account published by Al Jazeera. The bombardment, which began on Saturday, February 28, 2026, has forced residents to evacuate, destroyed critical infrastructure, and effectively halted the island’s core economies of fishing and tourism.

Khadijeh Bandari, a 28-year-old fisherwoman who operates a small guesthouse and seaside restaurant with her husband, described how military actions quickly transformed life on the island. Shortly after initial explosions were heard, coastguard officers instructed workers to pack up their stalls and clear the shoreline. The sound of American bombs reached Hengam Island before a nearby village was struck, prompting immediate security restrictions.

The conflict followed earlier economic difficulties in January, when a weeks-long internet shutdown across Iran disrupted online fish sales and reduced tourist visits. Although business briefly resumed after internet service was restored, the onset of airstrikes at the end of February led to the closure of both the Hengam and Kandaloo piers. Coastguard authorities prohibited boat travel between Hengam and nearby Qeshm Island over concerns that civilian vessels could be targeted.

As airstrikes persisted, many families evacuated Hengam Island in stages. Residents living closest to the pier were asked to leave their homes due to the risk of bombings. While some residents, including Bandari’s family, initially remained behind to tend to livestock or safeguard property, others were forced to adapt to nightly shelling by creating games and stories to soothe young children.

Destruction intensified in subsequent attacks. The day after Bandari and her family temporarily departed the island, an airstrike directly targeted Hengam’s pier, destroying the structure and killing three people. Telecommunications were disrupted during the strike, leaving remaining residents unable to immediately assess the casualties or contact relatives.

Beyond structural loss, the attacks decimated individual livelihoods across the island. Multiple residents lost homes and fishing boats, which often represented their primary assets and life savings. Local fishers who had financed their vessels through government-backed marriage loans now face years of debt repayments despite their boats being destroyed in the strikes.

Background

Hengam Island is a small island located in the Persian Gulf off the southern coast of Qeshm Island, Iran. The island’s economy relies heavily on small-scale fishing, local boat transport, and tourism. Coastal communities along southern Iran depend on maritime access to neighboring islands like Qeshm for trade, essential supplies, and travel.