Iran Launches New Attacks on Israel
Millions of Israelis were forced to take shelter as Iran launched a fresh wave of missile and drone attacks targeting major cities. The escalation, following Khamenei's assassination, has plunged the region into an intense cycle of retaliation, with analysts noting that while U.S.-Israeli strikes have had tactical success, the long-term strategic outcome remains highly uncertain.
For decades, the conflict between Iran and Israel was waged as a "shadow war," characterized by covert operations, cyberattacks, and the assassination of nuclear scientists. This indirect struggle also involved proxy forces, with Iran backing groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Palestine, while Israel conducted strikes against Iranian targets in Syria. The dynamic shifted from proxy conflict to direct military exchanges in April 2024, after an Israeli airstrike on an Iranian consulate in Damascus. Iran retaliated with its first-ever direct drone and missile assault on Israeli territory, breaking a long-standing taboo and setting the stage for open confrontation. A significant escalation occurred in June 2025 with a 12-day war that included major Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military facilities, killing top commanders and scientists. Iran responded by launching over 550 ballistic missiles and more than 1,000 drones at Israeli cities, with the United States eventually intervening to strike several Iranian nuclear sites. This cycle is part of Iran's broader strategy of using its "Axis of Resistance" — a network of allied militias in Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, and Syria — to challenge Israel on multiple fronts. However, this network has been significantly weakened by the recent downfalls of the Assad regime in Syria and the decimation of Hamas and Hezbollah leadership.
