By Obinna Uballa
Escalating hostilities in the Middle East took a dramatic turn on Saturday as Israeli strikes reportedly killed Iran’s Defence Minister, Amir Nasirzadeh, and a senior commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Mohammed Pakpour, according to multiple sources familiar with regional military operations.
Tehran had not officially confirmed the deaths at the time of filing this report.
The reported killings come amid a coordinated offensive by Israel and the United States targeting Iranian military infrastructure, further deepening tensions in a conflict that has rapidly expanded across the region. Explosions were reported in several Iranian cities, including the capital, Tehran, as the campaign intensified.
Iran Launches ‘Truthful Promise 4’
In swift retaliation, Iran announced the launch of “Truthful Promise 4,” a large-scale missile operation targeting US military installations across the Middle East.
Explosions were reported in Abu Dhabi, Manama, Doha, Kuwait and Riyadh as Iranian ballistic missiles crossed regional airspace. In Bahrain, authorities confirmed that a missile strike targeted the headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Juffair.
The retaliatory strikes significantly widened the theatre of conflict, raising fears of a prolonged regional war involving multiple Gulf states.
US President Donald Trump had earlier defended the joint operation, describing it as aimed at eliminating imminent threats linked to Iran’s missile and nuclear programmes. Israeli officials characterised the assault as a “preventive strike.”
Dubai Airports Shut Down
In an unprecedented development, Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) suspended all operations on February 28 following missile activity in regional airspace.
Dubai International, widely regarded as the world’s busiest international airport, handles more global passenger traffic than any other hub. Airport authorities confirmed that more than 280 flights were cancelled, with at least 250 others delayed.
Major carriers including Emirates and Etihad grounded flights, while Qatar Airways suspended services to and from Doha after Qatari airspace was closed. Several international airlines – including Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, Air France, British Airways and others – either cancelled or rerouted flights across the Gulf.
The shutdown effectively disrupted one of the most critical nodes in global aviation, severing key transit links between Asia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Airlines were forced into lengthy detours to avoid closed airspace, increasing fuel consumption and operational costs.
Industry analysts warned that prolonged closure could severely impact tourism, trade and logistics in the United Arab Emirates, whose economy is heavily reliant on international connectivity.
Oil Prices Surge
Global oil markets reacted sharply to the escalating crisis. Brent crude closed at $72.87 per barrel on Friday, after briefly rising to $73.5 – the highest level since late July 2025. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) settled at $67.02 per barrel.
The spike followed indirect nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran in Geneva, which reportedly stalled over US demands for zero uranium enrichment. Trump expressed frustration over the negotiations, warning that “sometimes you have to use force.”
Energy analysts cautioned that further disruption – particularly to shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 21 million barrels of oil pass daily – could drive prices significantly higher. Some described the conflict as presenting “asymmetric upside risk” for crude markets.
There are also indications that Saudi Arabia may raise its April crude prices to Asian buyers, potentially by about $1 per barrel, amid increased demand from India seeking alternatives to Russian supplies.
Meanwhile, sources told Reuters news agency that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies are likely to consider increasing output by 137,000 barrels per day at their March 1 meeting after earlier suspending planned production hikes.
For oil-producing countries such as Nigeria, the price surge could boost earnings, as current prices stand well above the country’s 2026 budget benchmark of $64.85 per barrel
