Iran and Israel have been engaged in a shadow war since the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran, which has used opposing Israel as a key part of its ideology. Israel believes that Iran poses an existential threat, as evidenced by Tehran’s rhetoric, its build-up of proxy forces in the region, and its funding and arming of Palestinian groups.
The Israeli strike on Iran’s consulate in Syria killed 13 people, including Brig Gen Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior commander in the Quds force, the overseas branch of Iran’s elite Republican Guards (IRGC).
The Israeli military said that five ballistic missiles evaded air defenses and impacted on Israeli territory. Four landed in the Nevatim air base in the Negev desert in southern Israel, which the officials said was Iran’s primary target. The Israeli military said the base had been “lightly hit”.
Iran’s National Centre of Cyberspace spokesman, Hossein Dalirian, said there was “no air attack from outside borders”. Israel had “only made a failed and humiliating attempt to fly quadcopters [drones] and the quadcopters have also been shot down”.
The Israeli strike on Isfahan in Iran is a response to Iran’s missile and drone attack on Israel.
Iran and Israel have vast military capabilities, with Iran investing heavily in missiles, drones, and supplying significant amounts to its proxies, the Houthis in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
However, Iran lacks modern air defense systems and fighter jets, which Russia is believed to be co-operating with Iran to improve.
Israel has one of the most advanced air forces in the world, with at least 14 squadrons of jets. Israel also has experience of conducting strikes deep inside hostile territory.
Iran does not have nuclear weapons and denies using its civilian nuclear program to become a nuclear armed state. Iran has built up a network of allies and proxy forces in the Middle East, challenging US and Israeli interests in the region. Syria is Iran’s most important ally, and its relationship with Russia is becoming increasingly significant.
Iran has provided Russia with Shahed attack drones and ballistic missiles, while Iran denies any role in the 7 October attack on Israel.
