How conflict in the Middle East is affecting NGU students
Emma Ogren, Assistant Editor
Photo courtesy of Hasan Almasi on Unsplash
Due to the conflict brewing in the Middle East, North Greenville University students have been diverted. Originally, a spring break mission team was going to be sent to the Middle East, but it was decided against because of the violence.
The team that was meant to go to the Middle East instead ended up in Provo, Utah, a place that NGU has sent many teams to before. NGU made this decision in order to keep both the students and faculty safe.
Emmy Taylor, junior intercultural studies major, was on the team that was originally supposed to go to the Middle East.
“I was excited to experience a different culture,” Taylor said. “I have no experience with Islam at all, so I was excited for that exposure. It was a little bit rough to process.”
Taylor explained that she had been to Utah before for mission trips and was excited to go back. However, there is a bittersweet feeling as it is an experience that the team no longer has access to and might not get again.
Iran and Israel have been engaged in a shadow war since the 1979 Iranian Revolution. This means that neither military has acknowledged warfare, but they attack each other in sneakier ways. These ways can include things such as cyberattacks, economic sabotage and psychological warfare.
In 2025, the two countries engaged in a 12-day war from June 13-24. After two years of tensions growing, Israel bombed military facilities in Iran as a surprise attack. It resulted in over 1,000 deaths of prominent military leaders and civilians alike. It ended with a ceasefire that was mediated by the United States and President Donald Trump.
On Feb. 28, 2026, a new escalation occurred in this conflict: the United States and Israel launched multiple surprise airstrikes on Iran. Through this, the Iranian Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed, along with multiple other officials.
After this, Iran responded by hitting Israel and multiple U.S. military bases and countries that are allied with the United States in that region.
As of March 2026, the war is still ongoing with military involvement.
We can see other consequences of this conflict in the United States. Rising gas prices are a huge concern for the average American at the moment. In early March 2026, the average gas price in South Carolina was $2.70. Now, in late March, the average is $3.57, up almost a whole dollar.
This is because the Strait of Hormuz, located in Iran, is facing disruptions due to the conflict. This Strait is a prominent waterway that lots of global trade makes its way through. This includes oil.
However, due to massive conflict, it being hit through warfare and destroying global goods is a huge concern to Iran. It is not entirely closed at the moment, but they are being incredibly selective with what they are allowing in and out through the strait.
