Major military operations by the United States and Israel against Iran is playing indescribable havoc with the lives for those in the region and elsewhere, a ripple of chaos that has made it all the way to Las Vegas.

One of those people is Robbie Strazynski, a resident of Israel who also publishes Card Player Lifestyle. He is also a mixed-game fanatic who is the man behind the Mixed Game Festival, a low-stakes high-fun series that was schedule to undergo its 13th version next weekend at Resorts World Las Vegas.

But because military action caused the cancellation of most flights in the region, and the fact that he and his family have been forced to sleep in his bomb shelter for the past few days, Strazynski decided to cancel the series.

“But even if I could somehow manage to find a way out of Israel and make it to Las Vegas, the bottom line is that it would just be wrong to leave my family under these circumstances,” he wrote in a post he hated to make.

“I don’t think I’ve ever hated having to write and publish an article more than this one. I have very unfortunately had to make the decision to cancel Mixed Game Festival XIII.

For those who don’t know, I live in Israel. As of this writing, our skies are closed “indefinitely” due to the ongoing situation in this part of the world. British Airways cancelled my ticket almost immediately. Even our national carrier, El Al, which always flies (even during wartime), is not currently allowing people to purchase new tickets as it focuses its operations and resources on bringing citizens stranded abroad home to their families.”

To make things a little worse for Strazynski and those who already booked their trips to Las Vegas, this was the first time the Mixed Game Festival stretched longer than a week. The tournaments, cash games, book signings and pizza parties were scheduled to take place in two blocks: March 8-12 and March 15-19.

Strazynski, who did a fantastic job as the host of CardChat’s podcast, apologized to the community of mixed games fanatics who were planning on flying in, as well as the staff of Resorts World and the event’s sponsors.

“I feel horrible towards you guys, the players. So many of you made travel arrangements, booked hotels, took time off from work, and had other plans in place.

I feel horrible towards the Resorts World poker room staff. We’ve held eight past Mixed Game Festival there, and they’ve always been so wonderful and accommodating.

I feel horrible towards our sponsors. When sponsorships for anything in the poker industry are increasingly difficult to come by, you guys nonetheless stepped up and offered your full-throated support.

I’m so sorry, everyone.”

So are we, sir. Be safe.