Four Weeks
That Changed
the Middle East

The United States and Israel launched massive coordinated air strikes against Iran, targeting military bases, government buildings and senior leadership. B-2 stealth bombers, B-1 Lancers and B-52 Stratofortresses struck fortified ballistic missile facilities. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed alongside several top military commanders. The world held its breath — a major Middle East war had begun.

Iran reacted within hours. Hundreds of missiles and drones struck Israel and US military bases across the region. Then came the move that alarmed the entire world: Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz — the passage through which 20% of global petroleum and 20% of liquefied natural gas flows annually. From 3,000 vessels per month, traffic fell to just 5%. Oil markets erupted. The conflict had become a global crisis.

Hezbollah entered the conflict, firing rockets into northern Israel in retaliation for Israeli strikes in Lebanon and the killing of Iranian leaders. Israel answered with heavy bombing campaigns and subsequently deployed ground troops into southern Lebanon. Entire neighbourhoods were reduced to rubble. More than one million Lebanese civilians were displaced — families carrying what they could, fleeing the ruins of their homes.

The war's most haunting moment: a girls' school in southern Iran was struck during US-Israeli air strikes, killing 148 children. Iran's total death toll reached between 1,060 and 1,190 — thousands more were wounded. The government ordered internet blackouts. Hospitals were overwhelmed. In Lebanon, the 2026 war killed more than 2,000 civilians and militants. The numbers were staggering; the faces behind them, unforgettable.

President Trump called the strikes necessary to weaken Iran's military. Iran swiftly appointed Mojtaba Khamenei — son of the slain Supreme Leader — as successor. Gulf states Qatar and Saudi Arabia called for diplomacy. The UN and most nations condemned the strikes. Inside the United States, large anti-war protests erupted. Iran's new leader was distrusted by Washington. The world split along old fault lines.

With the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed, oil prices surged dramatically. Petrol became more expensive across Europe, Asia and the Americas. International flights across the Middle East were reduced or cancelled. Shipping rerouted to avoid both the Strait and the Red Sea — adding weeks to journeys. Stock markets fell as investors feared a prolonged conflict. Countries with no stake in the fighting still felt the economic aftershock.

Israel struck Iranian gas fields and industrial infrastructure. Iran responded by targeting energy facilities in Qatar and Israel. The United States deployed thousands of additional troops to the region. Military analysts warned of a wider international war. Armed groups across the region debated whether to enter. Every escalation raised the stakes — and the body count.

The United States proposed a ceasefire plan. Iran rejected it, citing unfair conditions. Qatar continued mediating, calling for negotiations. On April 8, a conditional ceasefire was declared — but almost no shipping returned to the Strait of Hormuz. The ceasefire was fragile. Neither side wanted to appear weak. The fighting paused; the tensions did not.