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The Iran–Israel conflict is a long-standing geopolitical and military confrontation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the State of Israel, involving proxy hostilities since 1985 and direct clashes since 2024.[1][2]
| Iran–Israel conflict | |||||||
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| Part of Middle East conflicts and the Arab–Israeli conflict | |||||||
.png) Location of Iran (green) and Israel (orange) | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
Background
Iran and Israel became adversaries following the Iranian Revolution in 1979, when Iran severed ties on 18 February 1979 and adopted an openly hostile stance toward Israel. Over the following decades, the rivalry expanded through proxy forces and regional influence campaigns, including Iran's support for Hezbollah and Hamas, as well as its nuclear program and ballistic missile development.[3][4]
Proxy conflict (1985–present)
The conflict involved indirect clashes between Israel and Iran-backed forces in Syria, Lebanon and Gaza Strip, and Israeli strikes targeting Iranian positions.[1][2]
Direct conflict (2024–present)
2024 conflict
Direct confrontations included missile and drone exchanges, with Israeli bombings of Iranian targets in Syria and Iranian retaliatory attacks on Israeli territory.[5]
2025 Twelve-Day War
In June 2025, a brief war known as the Twelve-Day War involved Israeli strikes on Iranian military and nuclear facilities and a ceasefire brokered afterwards.[5]
2026 Iran war
In late February 2026, after the breakdown of US–Iran negotiations, Israel and the United States conducted coordinated military operations against Iranian targets. Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes on Israeli territory, causing civilian casualties and infrastructure damage.[6][7]
See also
References
- 1 2 Wintour, Patrick (February 28, 2026). "Iran vows 'no leniency' as it launches reprisal attacks on Israel and US air bases". The Guardian.
- 1 2 Jones, Callum; Campbell, Lucy; Ambrose, Tom; Ali, Taz; Mackay, Hamish; Fulton, Adam (20 March 2026). "Israel denies 'dragging' US into war – as it happened". The Guardian.
- ↑ Ellis-Petersen, Hannah (20 March 2026). "'Not our war': Gulf states weigh up options as existential threat from Iran conflict grows". The Guardian.
- ↑ "How the US and Iran became bitter rivals". BBC World Service. 22 January 2026 – via YouTube.
- 1 2 Lubell, Maayan; Cornwell, Alexander; Ali, Idrees (21 March 2026). "Iran attacks near Israeli nuclear site, fires long-range missiles for first time". Reuters.
- ↑ Scheer, Steven (18 March 2026). "Iranian cluster missiles pose extra challenge for Israel's air defences". Reuters.
- ↑ Osuh, Chris (22 March 2026). "Iran war timeline: civilians bear brunt of US and Israel's weeks-long campaign". The Guardian.
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