
On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched joint airstrikes on Iran targeting sites in Tehran and other cities. Tehran responded by launching dozens of ballistic missiles at Israel and Gulf states including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman, as well as Jordan and Syria. After 3 weeks of confrontations, oil prices jumped to exceed $100 per barrel, while the battle entered a phase of seizing initiative according to military experts. The operation came after a bloody crackdown on Iranian protests in January 2026 and an unprecedented American military buildup in the region. Washington aims to destroy Iran's missile and nuclear capabilities, while Gulf states face direct consequences unseen in decades. The question now is not about the possibility of escalation, but about the international system's capacity to contain the shockwave.