Shepherds in the Zagros Mountains keep going despite the chaos

In the rugged Zagros Mountains, where Iraq meets Iran, life hasn’t changed much for some shepherds. They still climb the same hills their families have used for generations, even as wars rage around them. The mountains have seen decades of conflict—missiles, drones, and fighter jets scream overhead, but for the men who herd goats and sheep, it’s just another day in a long line of troubles. Saman Abdulsaman laughs when asked if he’s afraid. At 45, he’s spent his whole life in these hills. His family once lost their home to a rocket in 1996, but he’s not going anywhere. "War? " he says with a shrug. "I was born into it. " His goats graze quietly, untroubled by the distant booms. To him, this is just how things are. But not everyone feels the same. Ajar Mustafa used to take his flock deep into the mountains. Now, he keeps them close to his village near Rawanduz. Drones buzz overhead daily, and the sound of jets makes his animals nervous. "I don’t go far anymore, " he admits. "I’m scared they’ll bolt or get hit. " Even his cows give less milk because of the constant stress.Fifty-year-old Mustafa has lived through five wars. He remembers Saddam Hussein’s attacks, the 2003 US invasion, and the rise of ISIS. "We’re always stuck in the middle, " he says. "We didn’t start these fights, but we always pay the price. " The strikes have only added to his worries. Over 300 attacks have been recorded since the latest conflict began, though no one tracks them officially anymore. Shwan Nabi, 34, saw a drone strike right in front of him on Mount Korek. "It’s scary, " he says. "We have no choice but to keep working. " He fought against ISIS years ago, protecting Yazidis from genocide. Compared to that, this war feels quieter—for now. No battles on the ground, just the constant threat of something worse.