World War: Fear grips Africa, others as Israel, Iran conflict reaches new height

As the conflict between Israel and Iran reaches a new height, concerns are mounting on the possible escalation to a wider war between global super powers, while Nigerians are primarily focused on how the ripple effects of the crisis might transcend the Middle East.

It’s now eight days since the conflict started, with each country firing ballistic missiles at each other.
Speaking on the implications of the escalating crisis in an exclusive interview with media, Professor Murtala Muhammad of the Department of History and International Studies at Northwest University, Kano, said the latest developments mark a dangerous turning point in an already tense relationship between the two regional rivals.

“This is not a new conflict,” he explained.
“The roots go back to the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, which saw the rise of a government that strongly opposed Israel.

“Over the years, Iran has supported groups like Hezbollah and Hamas, while Israel has responded with airstrikes and covert operations to contain Iran’s growing influence.”

However, he noted that the latest phase of the conflict, particularly after the 2023–2024 Gaza War, has seen a shift from proxy battles to direct confrontation.

That shift has become even more pronounced in recent weeks, as June 2025 witnessed a fresh and dangerous escalation.

Israel launched a series of air raids on Iranian military and nuclear facilities, including drone and missile strikes on command centers and suspected weapons sites.

In retaliation, Iran responded with coordinated missile and drone attacks on Israeli cities. Both sides have reported dozens of fatalities and injuries, with critical infrastructure damaged and fears rising that these direct exchanges could spiral into a broader regional conflict.

Escalating Global Interests

The Israel-Iran standoff, once a regional affair, now threatens to pull in major global players. According to Professor Muhammad, the United States, Israel’s strongest ally, is unlikely to stay on the sidelines if the conflict deepens.

“The United States is likely to be intimately involved in any protracted Israeli-Iranian conflict, particularly if American military installations or regional allies are targeted. Iran has become closer to China and Russia, especially after being cut off by Western sanctions.

“Drone technology exchanges are part of Russia’s military cooperation with Iran, which is already involved in the conflict in Ukraine.”

He also revealed there is a possibility of other countries getting pulled into the conflict.

“Despite its professed neutrality, China imports Iranian oil and aims to increase its economic and diplomatic clout in the Middle East. Although some Arab nations, including Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, have normalized relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords, others are still wary. A direct conflict between Shia Iran and Sunni Gulf powers could further polarize the area,” Muhammad said.

He went further to say that other regions of the world might feel the implication of this war even if they are not directly involved due to the dire importance of the Strait of Hormuz.

“European nations would probably support the United States and Israel politically even if they were hesitant to intervene militarily.

“If the assets of member nations are in danger or if Iran’s proxies attack Western objectives, NATO may be called upon. However, A wider world conflict might be sparked by this arrangement of alliances and rivalries, particularly if strategic hotspots like the Strait of Hormuz through which 20% of the world’s oil flows become theaters of conflict.”

What’s at Stake for Africa?

While the conflict is thousands of kilometres away, African nations are unlikely to be shielded from the effects.

Professor Muhammad pointed out that a major war in the Middle East would disrupt global oil supplies, trigger price hikes, and worsen inflation across most parts of Sub-Saharan Africa.

“African countries that depend heavily on imported petroleum products will be hit hard. Food prices could rise too, deepening economic hardship,” he said.

He also warned about the security risks.
“In regions like the Sahel and parts of West Africa where governance is weak, there’s a real danger that militant groups could exploit the chaos. Some of these groups already have ideological or operational links to Iran or its allies.”

“Diplomatically, the conflict may force African governments into difficult positions.

“The Israel-Palestine conflict has caused division within the African Union. The AU’s stance would be further complicated if countries come under pressure from global powers to take sides, especially countries that rely on military aid or infrastructure support,” he said.

Implication on Nigeria’s Security

For Nigeria, the outlook is particularly worrying. With the country still dealing with multiple security challenges with Boko Haram in the northeast to banditry in the northwest, Professor Muhammad believes another global crisis could stretch the issue to a greater height.

“If the conflict drags on, we could see an influx of weapons, fighters, or radical ideologies filtering into the region. That would complicate Nigeria’s already fragile security situation,” he warned.

He said there are also economic implications, stating that, “While higher oil prices might benefit the government in terms of revenue, the knock-on effect would be increased hardship for ordinary citizens through rising fuel and transportation costs,” he said.

He also revealed that a prolonged conflict might result in influx in migration.

“Increased instability in the Middle East may lead to waves of migration that have an indirect impact on West Africa and Northern Africa. Nigeria would find it difficult to withstand additional humanitarian pressures coupled with internal displacement.”

Professor Muhammad also pointed out that global donor attention could shift away from Africa.

“If there is a world war, donor focus may move to the frontlines and their effects, which could result in less international assistance for Nigeria’s humanitarian and counterterrorism initiatives.” he said.

Beyond security and economic impact, the expert warned of, “possible domestic political tensions.”

“A divisive conflict could exacerbate sectarian emotions or even have an impact on domestic politics in Nigeria, since both the Muslim and Christian populations hold strong opinions about Middle Eastern issues,”

His concern has already began to manifest as meid has noticed opinions being expressed that showcased diverse sentiments regarding the conflict among netizens.

War Continues to Escalate

Recall that President Donald Trump in a world press briefing said the United States would take a decision on its possible involvement in two weeks. But only a few hours after his address, Israeli’s missile defence system (Iron Dome) failed to stop an Iranian ballistic missile which hit a hospital with maximum impacts. It’s yet to be seen how Israel will react to the latest attack.