Feature photo by White House
By Jason Aparicio and Emily Hawxwell
Starting Feb. 28, Iran has been at war with the United States and Israel. With no signs of the cross-border attacks stopping, Washington is planning on increasing its military presence in the Middle East.
As strikes and proxy clashes intensify, allies and adversaries may be bracing for a prolonged conflict that may shape the Middle East. For troops and civilians, the growing confrontation is not an abstract power struggle but a reality marked by uncertainty, fear, and the constant threat of escalation.
U.S. Submarine Sinks Iranian Ship
Recently, a U.S. submarine sank an Iranian ship in international waters off the coast of Sri Lanka, killing dozens of sailors and widening Washington’s pursuit of the Iranian navy. The weapon used to sink the ship was a torpedo, the first time a U.S. submarine sank a ship by torpedo since August 4, 1945, when the USS Torsk sank a Japanese frigate.
The incident sent shockwaves across the globe and diplomatic circles and raised questions about how far the U.S. is willing to escalate naval confrontation with Iran and what this means for stability in International Waters.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has identified the frigate as IRIS Dena, which he stated was lost 2,000 miles away from Iran’s shores.
Sri Lankan authorities reported receiving distress signals from the frigate and dispatched ships and aircraft to conduct a rescue mission. They have reported that they have rescued 32 people and recovered 87 bodies. Officials say the search is continuing as crews are working to locate additional sailors who remain missing following the incident.
Rising Tensions in the Middle East
The tragedy comes after the rising tensions in the region as the conflict involving Iran continues to intensify. Military activity across the waters has increased in recent weeks, including several countries deploying naval forces and conducting patrols to secure key shipping routes. Analysts have warned that escalating confrontation could further destabilize regional security and place both military personnel and civilians at greater risk.
In recent days, both sides have continued to exchange strikes, raising fears that the conflict could expand beyond the area. Missiles and drones have reportedly struck strategic military positions and naval assets, prompting heightened air defense alerts across the region.
Beyond the battlefield, escalation of the war has taken a growing toll on civilians across the region. Repeated strikes are damaging homes, schools, hospitals, and vital infrastructure, not just in Iran but in neighboring states. Aid agencies like the Iranian Red Crescent Society, the World Health Organization, and many more have reported rising casualties and mass displacement of civilians in the middle of the conflict. People are facing power cuts, disrupted water supplies, and shortages of essential goods in the region.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a strait between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, has driven sharp spikes in global oil prices by cutting off a major share of worldwide supply and fueling fears of prolonged disruptions. Roughly 20% of the world’s oil regularly passes through the Strait of Hormuz, and the effective shutdown of the tanker traffic has now been disrupted. It has now officially been called by the International Energy Agency the “largest supply disruption in modern oil-market history.”
Back in the United States, the impact of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is being felt at the gas pump, where prices continue to rise steadily over the last several weeks. Higher crude oil costs are being passed through to retail fuel, which places the cost on the American people, paying significantly more to fill their tanks and straining the budgets for many commuters, truckers, and small businesses.
The surge in prices has also affected transportation and shipping costs, which adds more pressure across the economy as companies pass on the increased expenses to consumers.
As Americans struggle with high gas prices, people far beyond the United States are also feeling the effects of the war in their daily lives. Continents like Europe and Asia have felt the effects of rising energy and transportation costs, which are contributing to higher food prices, supply chain disruptions, and the fear of economic instability, which turns a distant conflict into a hardship for households across the globe.
Peace Community Reacts to the Conflict
Dyan Martin, a biology major and military veteran at William Peace University, said his experience in the military changed how he interprets the news about international conflict.
“From somebody who used to see the news before I was in the military, they kind of really upscale things, make them more dramatic than they actually are,” Martin said. “But when most people think of war, they think of, you know, boots on the ground, thousands… they think of, for example, the Russia-Ukraine conflict. That’s a pretty full-scale war compared to what is actively going on in Iran right now.”
To understand the human side of modern warfare, it helps to look at the experiences of those involved. Martin highlights the gap between training and the reality of conflict.
“There are a lot of perspectives on it,” Martin said. “Some people in the military train their whole careers for moments like this and believe that’s what they’re built for, while others join for completely different reasons. But when something like this actually happens, it’s eye-opening because you see how destructive it really is, beyond just strategy or training.”
Questions about the conflict have emerged in the United States. While the Trump administration has said the war was launched to counter what was described as an imminent threat from Iran’s military and nuclear capabilities, many have raised concerns about whether such a threat existed.
“I would just like to know what America is interested in this,” said Martin. “Iran has zero striking capabilities on United States soil. They have nothing that could ever come over here, besides sleeper cells, you know. So, who are we doing this for… It seems like it’s more of an Israel protection plan.”
Vincent Melomo, an associate professor of anthropology and chair of the department of history, culture, and politics at Peace, has had discussions with his classes to answer students’ questions and provide his perspective. He said while the situation is serious, the threat to the United States is limited.
“I wish I could be more reassuring,” said Melomo. “I guess the things that are reassuring are that Iran isn’t capable of directly attacking the U.S., period… U.S. intelligence since 9/11 is on a whole different level, so it’s much more likely to prevent any kind of retaliatory terrorist attack.”
He encourages students to remain informed and encouraged.
“I would encourage them to pay attention, you know, to read reliable news sources,” Melomo said. “The ultimate way that Americans have responsibility is in terms of supporting their leadership or not. And largely that’s done through elections. But of course, protests and other ways are possible, too. I encourage students to be informed, to make educated decisions about whom they’re electing to office.”
Students say the conflict is also shaping conversations on campus. Asya Dixonn, a junior and biology major at Peace, said many students are hesitant to talk about political issues openly, but she believes they should not be afraid to speak up.
“I think a lot of people are afraid to talk about political issues,” said Dixonn. “They think it’s like one side this, or one side that, it’s this black and white issue when it’s not really that. This is more of a humanitarian thing. They’re afraid of being judged or labeled one side or the other. I personally don’t care.”
Emily Ostling, a senior and an anthropology major at peace, said stories of the war make it difficult to stay focused on everyday life.
“It’s hard to focus on school and stay in a positive mindset when stories are coming out about 150 young girls being killed at school due to a US airstrike. It also makes it hard for people my age to respect the government or even think about it in a positive way when the people in it are behaving the way they are.”
Melomo said the conflict highlights the broader impact of U.S. foreign policy decisions.
“America has a larger global footprint, and these are decisions that the government is making,” said Melomo. “Your taxpayer dollars are being spent on affecting people in other countries, sometimes in good ways, but sometimes in very ways that you probably would be concerned about, and so you should pay attention to what’s happening, and you should feel some responsibility for whatever that is right.”