The longstanding conflict between Israel and Iran took a dramatic turn when Israel executed a significant military operation early on a Friday, resulting in substantial explosions in Tehran, the Iranian capital. This operation was specifically aimed at crucial nuclear and military installations, leading to the deaths of some of Iran's foremost military and nuclear scientists.
This escalation follows months of heightened tensions stemming from Iran's rapidly progressing nuclear ambitions, which Israel perceives as a direct existential threat. The ongoing rivalry has seen a series of provocative actions exchanged between the two nations over the past decade, with Iran's nuclear program at the center of these hostilities.
Key historical events underscore the animosity between Israel and Iran:
In 2010, the Stuxnet computer virus was unveiled, widely attributed to collaborative efforts by the U.S. and Israel. This sophisticated cyber-attack successfully disrupted and destroyed Iranian centrifuges vital for uranium enrichment.
Fast forward to 2018, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel had acquired tens of thousands of documents illustrating Iran’s concealment of its nuclear activities prior to the 2015 nuclear agreement. This intelligence, retrieved from safes in Tehran, was confirmed by a former head of Mossad, revealing the extent of the operation.
The year 2020 marked a considerable increase in alleged Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, following the dissolution of the 2015 nuclear accord. Notably, in July 2020, an explosion devastated a centrifuge production facility at Iran's Natanz site, which Iranian officials attributed to Israeli sabotage.
In November 2020, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, a prominent Iranian military nuclear scientist, was assassinated in a highly sophisticated operation outside Tehran, allegedly involving remote-controlled weaponry, further intensifying tensions.
Subsequent attacks continued into 2021, including an April strike on the Natanz nuclear facility that resulted in a significant blackout, which Israeli media attributed to a cyber intervention. Over time, Iran's uranium enrichment levels saw unprecedented increases, reaching up to 60%—a mere step away from weapons-grade enrichment.
The unfolding events took a broader military dimension as political alliances shifted. On October 7, 2023, Hamas militants launched an unprecedented offensive against Israel, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and capturing 250 hostages. Notably, this offensive drew support from Iran, which had been arming Hamas.
In response to escalating hostilities, Israeli forces conducted multiple operations in Iran, including a significant airstrike on April 1, 2024, targeting the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria, which killed 16 individuals, including two Iranian generals. Following this, on April 14, Iran retaliated with a massive missile and drone attack against Israel, launching over 300 projectiles. Israeli and U.S.-led forces succeeded in intercepting a significant portion of this incoming attack.
Further escalations ensued throughout 2024, with key figures such as Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas’s leader, and Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, being eliminated by Israeli strikes. As these events unfolded, the conflict transitioned from traditional military engagements to direct exchanges of military strikes, including significant attacks on Iranian territory itself.
By late 2024, Israel openly targeted Iran for the first time, striking air defense systems and military sites associated with Iran's missile development. This direct confrontation marked a significant moment in the Israeli-Iranian hostilities, which have been characterized by strategic assassinations, cyber warfare, and military operations spanning over a decade. The ongoing volatile environment in the Middle East continues to be shaped by the intertwined fates of these two nations and their respective allies.
