On Saturday, February 28, the Middle East was plunged into a severe crisis following reports that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had died in a coordinated Israeli-American strike on Tehran. Fox News initially reported that Israeli leaders confirmed Khamenei’s compound and offices were reduced to rubble after a targeted strike in downtown Tehran. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu further fueled these claims in a televised address, stating that "all indications show this tyrant is no longer with us" and that airstrikes had destroyed Khamenei’s compound. Former US President Donald Trump echoed these assertions on his Truth Social platform, declaring Khamenei "dead" and describing him as "one of the most evil people in History," asserting that the strike was a joint American and Israeli effort.

However, these claims were met with immediate contradiction from Iran. The Iranian foreign ministry, through Abbas Araghchi, claimed that the supreme leader and Iran’s president were both "safe and sound," dismissing attempts to change the country's regime as "mission impossible." Despite this, Israeli intelligence reportedly confirmed Khamenei's death and the recovery of his body, with some of the initial strikes hitting areas around his offices. Khamenei, born on April 19, 1939, had ruled Iran since 1989 and played a central role in the 1979 revolution.

The US-Israeli operation, described variously as "pre-emptive," "Operation Epic Fury," and "Operation Roaring Lion," targeted not only Khamenei’s residence but also key figures and strategic facilities. Two senior Iranian commanders, Iran’s Defence Minister Amir Nasirzadeh and Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammad Pakpour, were reportedly among those killed. US President Donald Trump and Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz justified the strikes as necessary to eliminate imminent threats from the Iranian regime, defend American and Israeli interests, and dismantle Iran’s nuclear program and missile industry. Trump issued a stark warning to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to "lay down arms" or "face certain death" and urged the Iranian people to "take to the streets en masse" to overthrow the government, calling it a "once in a generation chance."

In immediate retaliation, Iran launched widespread missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and multiple US military installations across the Gulf region. Explosions were reported near US bases in Bahrain (targeting the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquarters), Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq (near Erbil Airport). Jordan’s military also reported downing two ballistic missiles. The retaliatory strikes led to significant disruptions and casualties. In Dubai, a luxury hotel on The Palm Jumeirah, the Fairmont The Palm, was struck by debris from an intercepted Iranian missile, resulting in four injured individuals and a fire. State media in the UAE reported one fatality following the interception of Iranian missiles. In Iran, an airstrike on Minab Girls’ Primary School in Hormozgan province reportedly killed at least five students, with IRNA news agency claiming over 40 deaths and 45 injuries, attributed to Israeli forces.

The escalation immediately crippled air travel across the Middle East. Iran, Israel, Iraq, Kuwait, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, and Syria all imposed full or partial airspace closures. This led to massive disruptions, with over 9,600 flights delayed and more than 500 cancelled globally on Saturday. Major airlines, including Qatar Airways, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Saudia, SriLankan Airlines, RwandAir, Air Arabia, Air India, Etihad Airways, Oman Air, and Kenya Airways, announced temporary suspensions or cancellations of flights to and from the region, leaving thousands of passengers stranded, including Nigerians.

International reactions were swift and varied. Senator Bernie Sanders vehemently criticized the US attack, likening Trump’s justifications to "false claims" used for past wars in Iraq and Vietnam, urging the US Senate to reject approval for war. The British Government confirmed it did not participate in the strikes and expressed concern about "further escalation into a wider regional conflict," reiterating support for a negotiated solution and issuing travel warnings for its nationals. Nigeria’s Federal Government issued a security advisory to its citizens in Iran and neighboring Gulf states, urging heightened vigilance, limited non-essential travel, and strict compliance with local authorities, while also appealing for de-escalation and dialogue. The United Nations and the European Union also called for immediate de-escalation, emphasizing the protection of civilian lives and the urgent need for diplomatic engagement to prevent a broader regional war, which had seen indirect diplomatic talks falter.

With exchanges of fire spreading across multiple countries and rhetoric intensifying, fears mounted that the confrontation could expand into a wider regional conflict. Trump vowed "heavy and pinpoint bombing" would continue "as long as necessary to achieve our objective of PEACE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND, INDEED, THE WORLD!" The situation remained highly volatile, with calls for restraint and diplomacy underscored by the looming threat of further instability.