For many years, the conflict between Israel and Iran stayed mostly out of sight. But what once happened in the shadows—like cyberattacks and secret missions—has now become a very visible and dangerous confrontation.
Iran’s leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have long spoken of destroying Israel. Iran has supported armed groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. Israel, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, sees Iran as a threat to its survival—especially because of Iran’s nuclear program. As a result, both countries have taken action against each other, leading to one of the Middle East’s most dangerous rivalries.
Major Moments from 2019 to 2022
2019 – Strikes on Iranian Allies
Israel launched strikes in Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon to block Iran from supplying weapons to its allies. These included Hezbollah, which is based in Lebanon and backed by Iran. It also attacked ships carrying Iranian oil and arms through the Mediterranean and Red seas.
2020 – Killing a Key Scientist
In November, Iran’s top nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, was killed using a remote-controlled machine gun. The operation was highly advanced. Iran blamed Israel, and Israeli officials did not deny involvement.
2021 – Sea Attacks Begin
A mysterious explosion damaged a ship owned by an Israeli company near the coast of Oman. Soon after, Tehran accused the other side of targeting one of its cargo vessels. Later, an Iranian military ship in the Red Sea was struck by what appeared to be a naval mine placed by Israeli forces. These maritime attacks grew more frequent as the year went on, reflecting the rising hostility between the two rivals.
2022 – Assassinations and Suspected Poisonings
In May, Col. Sayad Khodayee, a senior officer in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, was gunned down in Tehran by two men on motorcycles. Officials later told the U.S. that Israeli forces were responsible. That same month, two Iranian scientists—Ayoub Entezari, an aerospace expert, and Kamran Aghamolaei, a geologist—died under mysterious circumstances. Tehran accused its longtime adversary of poisoning them, though there was no public response.
From Gaza to Tehran: 2023 to 2025
2023 – October 7 Attacks and Regional Fallout
On October 7, Hamas, backed by Iran, launched a major assault that triggered war in Gaza. Other Iran-aligned groups, including Hezbollah and the Houthis in Yemen, joined in by launching attacks as well. Although Ayatollah Khamenei denied direct involvement, documents later revealed that Hamas had shared its plans with Tehran. In December, a senior Iranian officer was killed in Syria by a missile strike attributed to Israeli forces.
2024 – Embassy Strike, Drone War, and High-Profile Deaths
In April, an airstrike on an Iranian embassy building in Damascus killed three top Iranian commanders and four officers. The attack, attributed to Israel, prompted Iran to launch over 300 drones and missiles in retaliation—nearly all of which were intercepted. In response, Israeli forces targeted air-defense systems guarding Iranian nuclear sites.
In July, Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, was killed in an explosion at a guesthouse in Tehran operated by the Revolutionary Guard. The operation was later confirmed by Israeli officials.
In September, Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amini, lost an eye during a sudden “pager attack” that struck Hezbollah members’ electronic devices. The digital strike killed dozens and injured thousands. Responsibility was claimed by the Israeli side.
That same month, Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in an airstrike near Beirut.
In October, Iran responded by launching around 180 ballistic missiles. Most were intercepted. Later that month, fighter jets from Tel Aviv struck additional Russian-made air defenses, particularly those protecting nuclear infrastructure.
2025 – Diplomacy and More Strikes
Early in 2025, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proposed a military strike on Iran’s nuclear sites. U.S. President Donald Trump, who had returned to power, discussed the plan with his advisers for months before deciding to try diplomacy instead. Iran rejected a demand to halt all uranium enrichment, but talks continued.
Just before the latest round of negotiations, on a Friday morning in Tehran, powerful explosions were heard across the city. Israeli officials said it was a major attack aimed at damaging Iran’s nuclear program. This renewed fears that the simmering conflict could turn into a full-scale war between two of the Middle East’s strongest militaries.
