Strategic locations in the Iran-Israel conflict including Tehran, Isfahan and nuclear facilities (Source: BBC Analysis)
Decades of Proxy Conflict Turn Direct
What began as a shadow war spanning four decades has erupted into open military confrontation between Israel and Iran, fundamentally reshaping Middle Eastern geopolitics. Since Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution severed diplomatic ties, the nations have engaged in a proxy conflict primarily fought through Iranian-backed groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. The relationship deteriorated further under Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with Iran calling for Israel’s destruction while Israel viewed Iran’s nuclear program as an existential threat. This decades-long cold war saw covert operations, cyberattacks like the Stuxnet virus, and assassinations of nuclear scientists before escalating to direct strikes in 2024.
April 2024: The Embassy Bombing That Changed Everything
Iran’s Damascus embassy after April 1, 2024 Israeli strike (Source: AFP/Getty)
The conflict entered unprecedented territory on April 1, 2024, when Israel bombed Iran’s embassy complex in Damascus, killing 16 people including senior Iranian commander Mohammad Reza Zahedi of the Quds Force. As reported by BBC on June 14, 2025, this marked the first acknowledged direct attack by Israel on Iranian sovereign territory under international law. Iran responded two weeks later with Operation True Promise – a barrage of 300 drones and ballistic missiles launched toward Israel on April 13-14, with the Houthis and Islamic Resistance in Iraq joining under Iranian command. The attack caused minor damage to Nevatim Airbase but was largely intercepted by a U.S.-led coalition including the UK, France, and Jordan.
Tensions escalated further on July 31, 2024, when Israel assassinated Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran just hours after killing Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut. According to Foreign Affairs analysis, these targeted killings demonstrated Israel’s increasing willingness to strike directly at Iranian leadership and allies. Iran vowed retaliation, setting the stage for October missile exchanges that saw Iran launch double the ballistic missiles it had in April, causing dozens of minor hits in Israel.
June 2025: Operation Rising Lion and Nuclear Gambit
Satellite images show damage at Iran’s Natanz enrichment site after June 13 strikes (Source: Planet Labs)
On June 13, 2025, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion – a preemptive strike against Iranian nuclear and military targets that killed over 200 people including IRGC leaders and nuclear scientists. The attacks damaged key facilities including the uranium enrichment plant at Natanz and missile complexes near Tabriz, though the fortified underground Fordow facility remained operational according to state atomic energy spokesperson Behrouz Kamalvandi. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei: “If Khamenei continues to fire missiles at Israel’s home front – Tehran will burn”.
Iran retaliated within hours with Operation True Promise III, launching approximately 100 ballistic missiles and 100 drones at Israeli cities and military sites. The attacks killed 24 Israeli civilians and injured nearly 600, destroying homes in Tel Aviv and hitting residential areas in central Israel. The Israeli Air Force claimed unprecedented success, striking “defense arrays in the area of Tehran” from over 1,500 km away and destroying “200+ ballistic missile launchers and 120+ SAM launchers” according to IDF reports.
Global Implications and Escalation Risks
Shifting alliances in the Middle East crisis (Source: Foreign Affairs/Council on Foreign Relations)
The conflict has drawn in global powers with potentially catastrophic economic consequences. The United States has provided missile defense support with THAAD batteries while publicly distancing itself from Israeli operations. Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Daniel Shapiro warned in Foreign Affairs that Iran possesses “thousands of close-range ballistic missiles” capable of striking U.S. bases across the Middle East, and could attempt to shut down the Strait of Hormuz – through which 20% of global oil passes. Oil prices have already surged amid the fighting, potentially benefiting Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.
China and Russia have condemned Israel’s actions at the UN Security Council, with China’s ambassador Fu Cong calling the strikes “violations of Iran’s sovereignty” that risk derailing nuclear diplomacy. Meanwhile, U.S. intelligence assessments conflict sharply – while DNI Tulsi Gabbard testified in March 2025 that Iran wasn’t building nuclear weapons, CENTCOM commander Michael Kurilla warned days before the strikes that Iran was “weeks away” from nuclear capability. Former U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley praised Israel’s “decisive action” while Senator Mark Kelly cautioned about dangerous escalation risks.
Conclusion: A New Middle East Reality
The transformation of the Iran-Israel conflict from shadow warfare to open confrontation marks a pivotal moment in Middle Eastern history with global ramifications. With Iran vowing further retaliation and Israel pledging continued operations until the “threat of a nuclear Iran is gone,” the region faces the prospect of prolonged conflict despite international calls for de-escalation. The strikes have already reshaped regional alliances, demonstrated by Saudi and Emirati intelligence sharing with Israel against Iran, while creating humanitarian crises in Gaza and Lebanon. As both nations navigate this dangerous new phase, the world watches anxiously to see whether diplomacy can prevail before further escalation destabilizes global energy markets and draws major powers into direct conflict.
Frequently Asked Questions
What started the direct Iran-Israel conflict?
The direct conflict began with Israel’s April 1, 2024 bombing of Iran’s embassy in Damascus, killing Quds Force commander Mohammad Reza Zahedi. This marked the first acknowledged attack on Iranian sovereign territory.
What are the main Iranian proxy groups?
Iran’s “Axis of Resistance” includes Hezbollah (Lebanon), Hamas (Gaza), Shiite militias in Iraq, and the Houthis (Yemen). These groups have participated in coordinated attacks against Israel.
What damage did the June 2025 strikes cause?
Israeli strikes damaged Natanz nuclear facility and killed 224+ people including IRGC leaders. Iranian retaliation killed 24 Israelis and injured nearly 600. Both sides claim significant destruction of enemy defense systems.
Is Iran developing nuclear weapons?
U.S. intelligence (March 2025) assessed Iran isn’t building nuclear weapons, but Iran has enriched uranium to 60% purity – close to weapons-grade – and accumulated 409kg of this material by May 2025.
What role is the US playing?
The U.S. has provided missile defense systems (THAAD) and participated in intercepting Iranian drones but has distanced itself from Israeli offensive operations.
Strategic locations in the Iran-Israel conflict including Tehran, Isfahan and nuclear facilities (Source: BBC Analysis)
Decades of Proxy Conflict Turn Direct
What began as a shadow war spanning four decades has erupted into open military confrontation between Israel and Iran, fundamentally reshaping Middle Eastern geopolitics. Since Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution severed diplomatic ties, the nations have engaged in a proxy conflict primarily fought through Iranian-backed groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. The relationship deteriorated further under Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with Iran calling for Israel’s destruction while Israel viewed Iran’s nuclear program as an existential threat. This decades-long cold war saw covert operations, cyberattacks like the Stuxnet virus, and assassinations of nuclear scientists before escalating to direct strikes in 2024.
April 2024: The Embassy Bombing That Changed Everything
Iran’s Damascus embassy after April 1, 2024 Israeli strike (Source: AFP/Getty)
The conflict entered unprecedented territory on April 1, 2024, when Israel bombed Iran’s embassy complex in Damascus, killing 16 people including senior Iranian commander Mohammad Reza Zahedi of the Quds Force. As reported by BBC on June 14, 2025, this marked the first acknowledged direct attack by Israel on Iranian sovereign territory under international law. Iran responded two weeks later with Operation True Promise – a barrage of 300 drones and ballistic missiles launched toward Israel on April 13-14, with the Houthis and Islamic Resistance in Iraq joining under Iranian command. The attack caused minor damage to Nevatim Airbase but was largely intercepted by a U.S.-led coalition including the UK, France, and Jordan.
Tensions escalated further on July 31, 2024, when Israel assassinated Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran just hours after killing Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut. According to Foreign Affairs analysis, these targeted killings demonstrated Israel’s increasing willingness to strike directly at Iranian leadership and allies. Iran vowed retaliation, setting the stage for October missile exchanges that saw Iran launch double the ballistic missiles it had in April, causing dozens of minor hits in Israel.
June 2025: Operation Rising Lion and Nuclear Gambit
Satellite images show damage at Iran’s Natanz enrichment site after June 13 strikes (Source: Planet Labs)
On June 13, 2025, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion – a preemptive strike against Iranian nuclear and military targets that killed over 200 people including IRGC leaders and nuclear scientists. The attacks damaged key facilities including the uranium enrichment plant at Natanz and missile complexes near Tabriz, though the fortified underground Fordow facility remained operational according to state atomic energy spokesperson Behrouz Kamalvandi. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei: “If Khamenei continues to fire missiles at Israel’s home front – Tehran will burn”.
Iran retaliated within hours with Operation True Promise III, launching approximately 100 ballistic missiles and 100 drones at Israeli cities and military sites. The attacks killed 24 Israeli civilians and injured nearly 600, destroying homes in Tel Aviv and hitting residential areas in central Israel. The Israeli Air Force claimed unprecedented success, striking “defense arrays in the area of Tehran” from over 1,500 km away and destroying “200+ ballistic missile launchers and 120+ SAM launchers” according to IDF reports.
Global Implications and Escalation Risks
Shifting alliances in the Middle East crisis (Source: Foreign Affairs/Council on Foreign Relations)
The conflict has drawn in global powers with potentially catastrophic economic consequences. The United States has provided missile defense support with THAAD batteries while publicly distancing itself from Israeli operations. Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Daniel Shapiro warned in Foreign Affairs that Iran possesses “thousands of close-range ballistic missiles” capable of striking U.S. bases across the Middle East, and could attempt to shut down the Strait of Hormuz – through which 20% of global oil passes. Oil prices have already surged amid the fighting, potentially benefiting Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.
China and Russia have condemned Israel’s actions at the UN Security Council, with China’s ambassador Fu Cong calling the strikes “violations of Iran’s sovereignty” that risk derailing nuclear diplomacy. Meanwhile, U.S. intelligence assessments conflict sharply – while DNI Tulsi Gabbard testified in March 2025 that Iran wasn’t building nuclear weapons, CENTCOM commander Michael Kurilla warned days before the strikes that Iran was “weeks away” from nuclear capability. Former U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley praised Israel’s “decisive action” while Senator Mark Kelly cautioned about dangerous escalation risks.
Conclusion: A New Middle East Reality
The transformation of the Iran-Israel conflict from shadow warfare to open confrontation marks a pivotal moment in Middle Eastern history with global ramifications. With Iran vowing further retaliation and Israel pledging continued operations until the “threat of a nuclear Iran is gone,” the region faces the prospect of prolonged conflict despite international calls for de-escalation. The strikes have already reshaped regional alliances, demonstrated by Saudi and Emirati intelligence sharing with Israel against Iran, while creating humanitarian crises in Gaza and Lebanon. As both nations navigate this dangerous new phase, the world watches anxiously to see whether diplomacy can prevail before further escalation destabilizes global energy markets and draws major powers into direct conflict.
Frequently Asked Questions
What started the direct Iran-Israel conflict?
The direct conflict began with Israel’s April 1, 2024 bombing of Iran’s embassy in Damascus, killing Quds Force commander Mohammad Reza Zahedi. This marked the first acknowledged attack on Iranian sovereign territory.
What are the main Iranian proxy groups?
Iran’s “Axis of Resistance” includes Hezbollah (Lebanon), Hamas (Gaza), Shiite militias in Iraq, and the Houthis (Yemen). These groups have participated in coordinated attacks against Israel.
What damage did the June 2025 strikes cause?
Israeli strikes damaged Natanz nuclear facility and killed 224+ people including IRGC leaders. Iranian retaliation killed 24 Israelis and injured nearly 600. Both sides claim significant destruction of enemy defense systems.
Is Iran developing nuclear weapons?
U.S. intelligence (March 2025) assessed Iran isn’t building nuclear weapons, but Iran has enriched uranium to 60% purity – close to weapons-grade – and accumulated 409kg of this material by May 2025.
What role is the US playing?
The U.S. has provided missile defense systems (THAAD) and participated in intercepting Iranian drones but has distanced itself from Israeli offensive operations.
M Hafi
M. Hafi is the dedicated author behind More Daily News, committed to bringing you the latest and most relevant US news and updates. With a passion for delivering insightful content, M. Hafi strives to keep you informed and engaged with valuable and knowledgeable information.