Iran and Israel Trade Direct Strikes
Iran unleashed a wave of missiles and drones at Israeli cities, forcing millions into shelters in retaliation for the killing of its Supreme Leader. Israel, with U.S. backing, responded with its own intense strikes on Tehran, targeting missile sites and naval assets in the most direct confrontation between the two nations in decades.
This direct exchange of fire is the culmination of a decades-long "shadow war" between Iran and Israel, which has previously been fought through proxy forces, cyberattacks, and targeted assassinations. For years, Israel has been accused of killing Iranian nuclear scientists, a charge it has never officially confirmed or denied. A notable cyberattack was the Stuxnet virus, widely believed to be a joint U.S.-Israeli creation, which sabotaged Iran's nuclear centrifuges in 2010. The conflict escalated into direct military confrontations in 2024, with Iran launching hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel in April and again in October of that year. Israel, with assistance from the U.S. and other allies, intercepted the vast majority of these projectiles. These events were followed by a more sustained, 12-day conflict in June 2025, during which Israel struck numerous military and nuclear facilities inside Iran. The recent Iranian attack utilized a combination of ballistic missiles and drones, similar to previous barrages. Israel's defense relied on its multi-layered air defense system, which includes the Arrow system for intercepting long-range ballistic missiles, some even in space. The Israeli counter-strikes, dubbed "Operation Roaring Lion," involved over 200 fighter jets in their initial wave, establishing air superiority over Tehran and targeting key military and leadership sites. International reactions have been divided, with the United States openly supporting and participating in the Israeli operations. Russia and China have condemned the strikes on Iran, calling for de-escalation. The death of Iran's Supreme Leader has introduced a significant level of uncertainty, with Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian stating that a new leadership council has begun its work.
