NAIROBI, Kenya – The Middle East just got a whole lot more volatile—and the world is watching with bated breath.
In a dramatic escalation of tensions, Israel pounded Iran in a series of air raids Friday, targeting over 100 strategic sites including key nuclear and military facilities in Tehran.
The strikes reportedly killed several high-ranking Iranian officials, including Armed Forces Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri, Revolutionary Guards leader Hossein Salami, and multiple senior nuclear scientists.
Iranian state media confirmed that civilians, including women and children, were also among the casualties after residential buildings were hit.
Iran, reeling from the surprise offensive, retaliated by launching 100 drones toward Israel, though the Israeli military says most were intercepted.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the operation a direct hit on the “heart of Iran’s nuclear enrichment programme,” including the infamous Natanz atomic facility. And if you thought this was a one-off, Netanyahu made it clear: “The operation will continue as many days as it takes.”
Meanwhile, airports across the region ground to a halt. Tehran’s main international airport, Imam Khomeini, shut down completely, and neighboring Iraq closed its airspace.
Over in Israel, the country declared a state of emergency and sealed off its own skies, with Defence Minister Israel Katz warning of “immediate” retaliation from Tehran. The Israeli military echoed the sentiment, saying Iran could strike back at any moment.
As if that weren’t enough geopolitical drama, former U.S. President Donald Trump told Fox News he had advance notice of the Israeli strikes and emphasized that Tehran “cannot have a nuclear bomb.”
Trump claimed that a nuclear deal was “fairly close” but admitted the latest attacks might either “blow it” or “help it”—a classic Trumpism.
Though the United States distanced itself from the Israeli airstrikes, Tehran was not buying it. Iranian officials claimed Washington was complicit, insisting Israel could not have acted without U.S. approval.
Iran’s Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh upped the ante earlier this week, threatening American military bases in the region, stating Iran had “access to all of them.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio quickly drew a red line, warning Iran not to involve the U.S. in Israel’s fight. “Let me be clear,” he said, “Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel.”
As the dust settled—momentarily—oil prices surged by 12%, while global stock markets took a hit. The economic ripple effect is just one part of the broader question: What happens next?
The UN’s nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, confirmed that Natanz was among the targets and that it’s closely monitoring radiation levels. They’re also staying in contact with their inspectors on the ground in Iran, where tensions have reached boiling point.
This isn’t just another tit-for-tat. It follows months of rising hostilities between Israel and Iran since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, backed by Tehran, which triggered Israel’s relentless offensive in Gaza.
For the first time in years, the two longtime enemies are directly attacking each other, pulling the region—and possibly the world—closer to a major conflict.
Despite repeated denials, Iran continues to enrich uranium at 60% purity, which is dangerously close to weapons-grade.
In a move that’s unlikely to ease concerns, Tehran has vowed to open a new enrichment center at a secure location following the attacks.
Israel, never shy about its red lines, has doubled down. The country continues to call for global action, especially after the IAEA accused Iran this week of failing to meet its nuclear obligations.
Iran’s nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami dismissed the report as “extremist”, blaming Israeli pressure.
As for diplomacy? Unclear. The next round of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, set for Sunday in Oman, is suddenly hanging in the balance.
So now, we wait. With warplanes in the sky, markets on edge, and leaders playing geopolitical chess, the question isn’t just whether peace talks will resume. It’s whether they’ll even matter.
