Israel says Iran war entering 'decisive phase'

The Middle East conflict has entered what Israeli officials describe as a "decisive phase," with Iran and its allies sustaining coordinated attacks across the region despite overwhelming military pressure from US and Israeli forces. For European investors with operations across Africa, this escalation represents a critical inflection point that could reshape continental economics within weeks. The conflict, now in its third week, has already displaced millions and reportedly killed over 1,200 people in Iran alone. Most alarmingly, Iranian forces have successfully targeted critical infrastructure across multiple nations, including a second strike on the US embassy in Baghdad and attacks on the UAE's Fujairah oil terminal—one of the world's most strategically important energy export hubs. By deliberately choking off traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, Iran is executing a strategy designed to maximize economic disruption globally. **The African Energy Connection** For European investors, the implications are immediate and severe. Africa's energy sector—particularly oil-producing nations like Nigeria, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea—operates within a tightly integrated global market. Any sustained disruption to Gulf oil exports inevitably creates supply constraints that push crude prices higher. While this temporarily benefits African oil exporters, it creates downstream problems: higher energy costs cascade through manufacturing, logistics, and