Iran launched missiles and drones at Israel in response to an Israeli airstrike that killed Iranian military officers. Israel conducted a limited operation in Iran in retaliation. The U.S. denied involvement and urged de-escalation. Iran's attack followed an April 1 airstrike on its consulate in Syria. Most Iranian drones and missiles were intercepted by Israeli, U.S., and European forces. The situation remains tense amid uncertainties about Iran's nuclear capabilities post the 2015 nuclear deal withdrawal.
Iran launched a direct military attack on Israel, firing more than 300 drones and missiles, with most being intercepted by Israel and its allies. This attack was in retaliation for Israel's strike on the Iranian consulate in Syria. Israel, along with the United States, Britain, France, and other allies, formed a coalition to counter Iran's unprecedented attack. Israel's Foreign Minister called for imposing sanctions on Iran's missile project and designating the IRGC as a terrorist organization.
Iran launched missiles at Israel in retaliation for a suspected Israeli airstrike on its embassy compound in Syria on April 1. The Iranian attack led to the Israeli Iron Dome air defense system being activated. The United Nations nuclear watchdog expressed concerns about Israel possibly targeting Iranian nuclear facilities. Israel's military chief confirmed that Israel would respond to the missile and drone attack by Iran. There are calls for restraint to avoid escalating conflict in the Middle East.
Iran launched more than 300 drones and missiles towards Israel over the weekend, showcasing Israel's superior military technology. The attack marked a victory for Israel, the United States, Britain, and France, while humilating Tehran. Concerns about a wider war persist despite Israel's capability to defend itself. Iran retaliated for Israeli strikes on Iranian commanders in Syria through proxies like Hamas and Hezbollah, causing tensions in the region to escalate.
An Israeli missile struck an airfield outside of Isfahan in response to an unprecedented missile and drone attack on Israel by Iran, leading to heightened tensions in the Middle East. Iran has played down the incident and indicated no plans for retaliation. This event signals a dangerous escalation, with questions arising about deterrence and potential further escalation between the two countries. The incident did not target Iranian nuclear sites and may have aimed to showcase Israeli capabilities. The situation places the onus on Iran to respond, amidst concerns of a new cycle of escalation.
Iran's Ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, described Israel's promise of a significant response to Iran's weekend attack as a threat and not an action. Following an emergency UN Security Council meeting in New York, Iran launched over 300 drones and missiles into Israel in retaliation to a strike on an Iranian consular building in Syria. Israel's war cabinet discussed possible retaliation, with Iran warning of further decisive actions if provoked. The conflict has raised fears of wider escalation in the Middle East region.
Israel responded to Iran's mass missile and drone attack with a carefully calibrated retaliation, supported by allies like the United States, Britain, France, and key Gulf Arab states. The goal is to build a united front to counter Iran's quest for regional dominance and support the demise of the ruling mullahs in Tehran. The successful collective response in thwarting over 300 Iranian drones and missiles highlights the need for a strong anti-Iranian alliance to maintain peace and prosperity in the Middle East. Israel's focus on Isfahan province in central Iran indicates continued efforts to address Iran's actions.
Israel and Iran accused one another at the United Nations of being the main threat to peace in the Middle East, with Israel calling on the Security Council to impose sanctions on Iran after Tehran's unprecedented attack on Israel. Iran launched a direct attack on Israel for the first time, firing over 300 missiles and drones in response to an air strike on Tehran's consulate building in Syria. Israel's UN Ambassador requested the designation of Iran's Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization and the reimposition of sanctions against Tehran.
Iran has grounded commercial flights in parts of the country following reports of explosions near the city of Isfahan, leading to the activation of its air defence systems. Tensions in the Middle East are heightened after Iran's recent missile and drone attack on Israel. The Israeli military has not yet responded. Iranian state TV confirmed the firing of air defences across several provinces but did not provide details on the cause. The incident has not resulted in casualties, and there has been no official response from Iran.
An Israeli drone strike on Isfahan, a key city in Iran with military-industrial facilities and an important facility in Iran's nuclear program, has escalated tensions between Iran and Israel. The strike, possibly a response to Iran's attack on Israel, marks a significant shift in the conflict dynamics. US officials, including President Biden, have expressed concerns and opposition to further escalation, emphasizing support for Israel in self-defense but not seeking a wider war with Iran.
The United States received advance warning of the Israeli drone strike on Iran, leading to Iran shooting down Israeli drones in a recent confrontation. Both countries are cautiously calibrating their responses to avoid further escalation in the region. Global calls for restraint have been made, as fears of conflict rise. Iran downplayed Israel's attack on a major nuclear site, signaling no immediate retaliation. The situation remains volatile across various fronts, with Israel and Iran engaged in direct confrontation. The need for de-escalation is emphasized, with pressure mounting on leaders to exercise restraint and prevent further conflict.
Iran fired air defence systems to shoot down three drones over Isfahan, following reported military operations by Israel against Iran, with explosions in Isfahan and Tabriz. Multiple countries, including Oman, Egypt, Italy, UK, EU, Netherlands, China, Japan, Canada, France, Australia, and the US, have called for de-escalation and restraint to prevent further conflict and instability in the region. The Australian government condemned Iran's missile strikes towards Israel and updated travel advisories for both Iran and Israel, citing high tensions and security risks.
Iran's Foreign Minister warns of immediate and maximum level retaliation if Israel takes further military action. An explosion near Isfahan's airport follows Iranian attack on Israel in response to the airstrike on its Damascus consulate. Israel downed most projectiles in the recent tit-for-tat strikes, heightening fear of a regional war. Calls for restraint from Israel's allies like the US to prevent further escalation as Israel vows to make its own decisions in responding to Iran's airstrikes.
Israel is considering a retaliatory strike on the bases of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps inside Iran following a direct attack by Iran involving missiles and drones. The United States and allies like Britain, France, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia may support Israel in intercepting IRGC's missiles. Despite diplomatic efforts to discourage escalation, Israel is wary of Iran's past aggressive actions including attacks on US and Israeli interests.
Israel carried out a strike against Iran targeting sensitive nuclear facilities in Isfahan, following Iran's recent retaliatory drone and missile attack on Israel. The strike aims to draw a line under the escalating tensions in the Middle East. Google fired employees protesting a contract supplying cloud services to Israel, sparking concerns about potential weaponization against Palestinian civilians. Meanwhile, former President Trump's criminal trial in New York involves 34 felony counts related to hush money payments. Students exposed to gun violence in Minneapolis prompt government funding for school safety initiatives. Israel's strike highlights a weakening of its deterrence power due to intelligence failures.
The Israeli army has bombed dozens of targets in Gaza, leading to a humanitarian crisis according to UN Chief Antonio Guterres. Concerns of wider war in the Middle East have risen after Israel's retaliation threats against Iran. The US and Britain have imposed sanctions on Iran's military drone program amidst escalating tensions. Calls for restraint have been made while Iran warns Israel of potential regrets. Despite global focus on Iran tensions, Israel continues its offensive in Gaza, drawing attention to the fragile situation in the region.
The Iran–Israel proxy conflict, also known as the Iran–Israel proxy war or Iran–Israel Cold War, is an ongoing proxy conflict between Iran and Israel. In the Israeli–Lebanese conflict, Iran has supported Lebanese Shia militias, most notably Hezbollah. In the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Iran has backed Palestinian groups such as Hamas. Israel has supported Iranian rebels, such as the People's Mujahedin of Iran, conducted airstrikes against Iranian allies in Syria and assassinated Iranian nuclear scientists. In 2018 Israeli forces directly attacked Iranian forces in Syria.Motivated by the periphery doctrine, Imperial Iran and Israel had close relations, seeing Arab powers as a common threat. After the 1979 Islamic revolution, Iran cut off relations, but covert ties continued during the subsequent Iran–Iraq War. Iran trained and armed Hezbollah during Israel's 1982 invasion of Lebanon, and continued to back Shia militias throughout the Israeli occupation of Southern Lebanon. Even before 1979, Iranian Islamists had materially supported the Palestinians; after 1979 Iran attempted relations with the Palestine Liberation Organization, and later with Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas. Israel fought a war with Hezbollah in 2006. Israel has fought several wars with Palestinians in and around the Gaza Strip: in 2008-2009, 2012, 2014, 2021 and 2023-2024. The 1982 Lebanon War and Israel–Hamas war have been the deadliest wars of the Arab–Israeli conflict.Various reasons have been given for the Iran-Israel conflict. Iran and Israel had previously enjoyed warm ties due to common threats, but by 1990s the USSR had dissolved and Iraq had been weakened. Iranian Islamists have long championed the Palestinian people, whom they perceive as "oppressed". Scholars believe that by supporting the Palestinians, Iran seeks greater acceptance among Sunnis and Arabs, both of whom dominate the Middle East. Ideologically, Iran seeks to replace Israel with a one-state solution (though Iran has at times also supported the two-state solution) and has predicted Israel's demise. Israel sees Iran as an existential threat, and accuses its regime of harboring genocidal intentions. Consequently, Israel has sought sanctions and military action against Iran to stop it from acquiring nuclear weapons.
A 7-year-old girl named Amina al-Hassouni from Al-Fur'ah in southern Israel is in critical condition after being hit by shrapnel in an Iranian missile strike that escalated tensions in the Middle East. Iran launched 170 drones, 30 cruise missiles, and 120 ballistic missiles, with 99% intercepted by Israel. The attack, in response to an earlier strike in Syria, marks Iran's first direct military assault on Israel, sparking global concern. Western leaders including the US President condemned the attack, and the UK's RAF shot down Iranian drones. G7 leaders are coordinating a diplomatic response to prevent further escalation.
The United States and the European Union are considering imposing additional sanctions on Iran following its attack on Israel over the weekend. The US Treasury Secretary and EU foreign policy chief have indicated plans for sanctions. Israel has called on allies to sanction Tehran's missile program, linked to UN sanctions that expired in October. Iran's first-ever direct attack on Israel involved over 300 missiles and drones, allegedly in retaliation for an Israeli airstrike on its consulate in Syria. Israel is advocating for sanctions on Iran's missile program and to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization.
Iran's Foreign Minister warned Israel of making them regret any attack on Iran in response to Tehran's weekend barrage of missiles and drones, following a deadly attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus blamed on Israel. Tehran's actions were described as 'limited and proportionate' with a vow to respond decisively to any Israeli aggression. Israeli officials have not specified their retaliatory actions yet. The Iranian minister emphasized Iran's legitimate defense and urged Israel to stop military adventurism against their interests.
The relations between Iran and Israel are divided into four major phases: the ambivalent period from 1947 to 1953, the friendly period during the era of the Pahlavi dynasty from 1953 to 1979, the worsening period following the Iranian Revolution from 1979 to 1990, and the ongoing period of open hostility since the end of the Gulf War in 1991. In 1947, Iran was among 13 countries that voted against the United Nations Partition Plan for the British Mandate of Palestine. Two years later, Iran also voted against Israel's admission to the United Nations.Iran was the second Muslim-majority country to recognize Israel as a sovereign state after Turkey. After the 1953 coup d'état, which reinstalled the pro-Western leader Mohammad Reza Pahlavi as the Shah of Iran, relations between the two countries significantly improved.After the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran severed all diplomatic and commercial ties with Israel, and its theocratic government does not recognize the legitimacy of Israel as a state. The turn from cold peace to open hostility began in the early 1990s, shortly after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the defeat of Iraq in the Gulf War, after which relative power in the Middle East shifted to Iran and Israel. The conflict escalated in the early 1990s, as Yitzhak Rabin's government adopted a more aggressive posture on Iran. Rhetorical conflict heated up during the presidency of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who made inflammatory statements against Israel. Other factors that have contributed to the escalation of bilateral tensions include Iran's development of nuclear technology relative to Israel's long-stated Begin Doctrine, Iran's funding of Islamist groups such as Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas, as well as alleged involvement in terrorist attacks such as the 1992 attack on Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires and the 1994 AMIA bombing, and Israel's alleged support for militant groups such as the People's Mujahedin of Iran and Jundallah as well as alleged covert Israeli operations in Iran including multiple assassinations and bombings.Since 1985, Iran and Israel have been engaged in an ongoing proxy conflict that has greatly affected the geopolitics of the Middle East, and has included direct military confrontations between Iranian and Israeli organizations, such as in the 2006 Lebanon War. The conflict has played out in various ways, including through support for opposing factions in conflicts in Syria and Yemen. Iran has provided support to the Syrian government, while Israel has supported opposition groups. In Yemen, Iran has provided support to the Houthi rebels, while Israel has provided support to the Saudi-led coalition fighting the rebels. The conflict has also involved cyber attacks and sabotage against each other's infrastructure, including attacks on nuclear facilities and oil tankers. Overall, the Iran-Israel proxy conflict is a complex and ongoing conflict that has had a significant impact on the political and security dynamics of the Middle East.
US and Israeli officials have chosen not to publicly acknowledge an air defense radar site strike inside Iran, aiming to de-escalate tensions and prevent Iranian retaliation. Reports suggest Israel informed the US before the strike, which involved three missiles targeting the radar site near Isfahan. The strike was a show of capability without provoking Iran, which dismissed it as media exaggeration. The Iranian Foreign Minister stated that the strike did not cause significant damage during a UN meeting.
Iran's local media reassured the public that nuclear facilities in Isfahan were secure after explosions were heard near the Shekari army airbase. The country's air defense successfully shot down several drones and there were no reported missile attacks. The cause of the explosions near Isfahan has not been determined yet.
An explosion at a pro-Iranian military base in Baghdad caused one death and eight injuries, with conflicting reports on the responsible party, including Israel and the US. The strike is believed to be retaliation for a drone strike in Jordan where three US service members were killed. The base belonged to Hashed al-Shaabi, a former pro-Iranian paramilitary group now integrated into Iraq's security forces. This incident occurred amid regional tensions between Israel, Tehran-backed Hamas, and recent attacks in Iran.
GAZA STRIP Israel launched dozens of airstrikes on Gaza overnight, Hamas said on Monday, as the army said it will not be distracted from the fighting after Iran's unprecedented attack heightened fears of a wider conflict. World powers have urged restraint after Iran launched more than 300 drones and missiles at Israel on Saturday, though the Israeli military said the vast majority were intercepted. Iran's permanent mission to the United Nations said the country's military action against Israel was based on Article 51 of the UN Charter regarding the legitimate right to self-defense and in response to the deadly Israeli attack against the Iranian consulate in Syria on April 1. "Even while under attack from Iran, we have not lost sight, not for one moment, of our critical mission in Gaza" to rescue hostages, Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said on Sunday. As mediators eye a deal to halt the fighting, triggered by Hamas' Oct 7 attack, fears grew over Israeli plans to send troops into Rafah, a far-southern city where the majority of Gaza's 2.
{{User:RMCD bot/subject notice|1=2024 Iranian consulate airstrike in Damascus|2=Talk:2024 Israeli bombing of the Iranian embassy in Damascus#Requested move 2 April 2024}On 1 April 2024, an Israeli airstrike destroyed the Iranian consulate annex building adjacent to the Iranian embassy in Damascus, Syria, killing 14 people, including a senior Quds Force commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi and seven other IRGC officers.The airstrike occurred at a time of heightened tensions between Israel and Iran, and amid the formers war with Hamas and Hezbollah. Iran has vowed revenge for the attack.
During the G7 foreign ministers meeting in Capri, Italy, the United States shared last-minute information from Israel about a drone action in Iran. The G7 condemned Iran's recent attacks, supported Israel's security, and warned of potential sanctions while calling for de-escalation and aid to the Palestinian people.
Oil prices briefly spiked as Israel retaliated against Iran, causing Brent crude to reach above $90 per barrel before later trading around $81. US West Texas Intermediate futures also dipped. The conflict in the Middle East poses risks to global oil markets, especially if Arabian Gulf exports are disrupted or the vital oil shipping route of the Strait of Hormuz is cut off. Israel's strike targeted Iran's Natanz nuclear research facility and air base, drawing criticism internally. The Biden administration did not endorse Israel's response, emphasizing the complexity of the situation.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to address Israel's attack on Iran, stating that the administration has no comment on the matter despite receiving advance warning. American officials were informed by Israel about the attack, but the White House aims to avoid getting involved in a potential conflict between Israel and Iran. President Biden's administration emphasizes the importance of avoiding escalation in the region and had cautioned the Israeli Prime Minister against sparking a war in the Middle East. The US shared information with G7 countries about the attack.
Check back for updates throughout the trading day U.S. equity futures moved lower Friday, while oil prices whipsawed and save-haven assets rallied, following reports of an Israeli missile strike on Iran that rattled global markets and accelerated the region's simmering military tensions. Israel's limited attack, however, appears to have targeted military installations south of Tehran and is unlikely, at least for the moment, to trigger a response from the Iranian government. Officials on both sides, in fact, played-down the strikes, with Israel not claiming formal responsibility and Iran dismissing them as a failed effort by "infiltrators" that caused limited damage.
Tensions between Israel and Iran have escalated, with Iran launching retaliatory airstrikes at Israel and threats to block the Strait of Hormuz. Experts warn of potential energy crisis and supply shocks if conflict escalates, impacting oil prices and global economy. Japan, heavily reliant on Middle East's crude oil, has prepared for up to 137 days of oil shortage. Market concerns rise as Israel plans response to Iran's attacks, leading to spikes in oil prices and increased trading volumes.
Iran and the United States have had no formal diplomatic relations since 7 April 1980. Instead, Pakistan serves as Iran's protecting power in the United States, while Switzerland serves as the United States' protecting power in Iran. Contacts are carried out through the Iranian Interests Section of the Pakistani Embassy in Washington, D.C., and the US Interests Section of the Swiss Embassy in Tehran. In August 2018, Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei banned direct talks with the United States.Relations between the two nations began in the mid-to-late 19th century, when Iran was known to the west as Persia. Persia was very wary of British and Russian colonial interests during the Great Game. By contrast, the United States was seen as a more trustworthy foreign power, and the Americans Arthur Millspaugh and Morgan Shuster were even appointed treasurers-general by the Shahs of the time. During World War II, Persia was invaded by the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union, both US allies, but relations continued to be positive after the war until the later years of the government of Mohammad Mosaddegh, who was overthrown by a coup organized by the Central Intelligence Agency and aided by MI6. This was followed by an era of close alliance between Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's regime and the US government, Persia being one of the US's closest allies, which was in turn followed by a dramatic reversal and disagreement between the two countries after the 1979 Iranian Revolution.Iranian explanations for the animosity with the United States include “the natural and unavoidable conflict between the Islamic system” and “such an oppressive power as the United States, which is trying to establish a global dictatorship and further its own interests by dominating other nations and trampling on their rights”, as well as the United States support for Israel (“the Zionist entity”). In the West, however, different explanations have been considered, including the Iranian government's need for an external bogeyman to furnish a pretext for domestic repression against pro-democratic forces and to bind the government to its loyal constituency. The United States attributes the worsening of relations to the 1979–81 Iran hostage crisis, Iran's repeated human rights abuses since the Islamic Revolution, different restriction by using spy methods on democratic revolution by US, its anti-Western ideology and its nuclear program.Since 1995, the United States has had an embargo on trade with Iran. In 2015, the United States led successful negotiations for a nuclear deal (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) intended to place substantial limits on Iran's nuclear program, including IAEA inspections and limitations on enrichment levels. In 2016, most sanctions on Iran were lifted. The Trump administration unilaterally withdrew from the nuclear deal and re-imposed sanctions in 2018, initiating what became known as the "maximum pressure campaign" against Iran. In response, Iran gradually reduced its commitments under the nuclear deal and eventually exceeded pre-JCPOA enrichment levels.According to a 2013 BBC World Service poll, 5% of Americans view Iranian influence positively, with 87% expressing a negative view, the most unfavorable perception of Iran in the world. On the other hand, research has shown that most Iranians hold a positive attitude about the American people, though not the US government. According to a 2019 survey by IranPoll, 13% of Iranians have a favorable view of the United States, with 86% expressing an unfavorable view, the most unfavorable perception of the United States in the world. According to a 2018 Pew poll, 39% of Americans say that limiting the power and influence of Iran should be a top foreign policy priority. Relations tend to improve when the two countries have overlapping goals, such as repelling Sunni militants during the Iraq War and the intervention against ISIS.
An armed conflict between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups has been taking place chiefly in and around the Gaza Strip since 7 October 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on southern Israel from the Gaza Strip. After clearing Hamas militants from its territory, the Israeli military embarked on an extensive aerial bombardment of the Gaza Strip followed by a large-scale ground invasion beginning on 27 October. Clashes have also occurred in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and with Hezbollah along the Israel–Lebanon border. The hostilities constitute the fifth war of the Gaza–Israel conflict since 2008 and are part of the broader Israeli–Palestinian conflict. They are considered to be the most significant military escalation in the region since the Yom Kippur War 50 years earlier.The Hamas offensive involved 3,000 militants breaching the Gaza–Israel barrier and attacking Israeli communities and military bases. During this attack, 1,139 Israelis and foreign nationals were killed, while 253 Israelis and foreigners were taken captive to the Gaza Strip. The attack was proclaimed as a response to the continued Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements, the prospect of Arab–Israeli normalization, and the plight of Palestinian refugees and prisoners. In response, Israel declared a state of war, tightened its existing blockade of Gaza and launched one of the most severe bombing campaigns in history, before commencing the ground invasion on 27 October. Israeli forces laid siege to Gaza City on 2 November and moved south to attack Khan Yunis a month later on 3 December; both sieges remain ongoing. Israel's next objective is the capture of Rafah. An estimated 6,000-12,000 militants have been killed during the conflict, and Israel has lost over 200 soldiers during its invasion. A United Nations resolution calling for a humanitarian pause passed on 15 November; the seven-day truce took effect at the end of that month.A humanitarian crisis has developed in the Gaza Strip, with healthcare in a state of collapse, shortages of food, clean water, medicine and fuel due to the blockade, electricity and communications blackouts, and potential famine conditions. More than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza during the conflict, including over 12,300 children and 8,400 women. Nearly all of Gaza's 2.3 million population have been internally displaced. The widespread civilian deaths have led to accusations of war crimes against both Israel and Hamas. In February 2024 576,000 people were "facing catastrophic levels of deprivation and starvation", stated The United Nations. More than 100 Palestinians were killed by Israeli troops that opened fire when huge crowds raced to pull goods off an aid convoy.The war has had significant international repercussions. Popular protests that primarily call for a ceasefire have occurred across the world. Israel's actions have been denounced by the Islamic world and much of the Global South; South Africa launched an International Court of Justice case alleging that Israel committed genocide. Israel has however received significant support from its traditional Western allies, especially the United States, which vetoed multiple UN Security Council resolutions calling for an immediate ceasefire. In response, Iran-backed militias have attacked American military bases in the Middle East, while the Yemeni Houthi movement attacked commercial ships they alleged were linked to Israel, incurring a military response from a number of countries.
The Iranian Armed Forces, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces, are the combined military forces of Iran, comprising the Islamic Republic of Iran Army (Artesh), the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (Sepah) and the Law Enforcement Force (Faraja).Iranian Armed Forces are the largest in the Middle East in terms of active troops. Iran's military forces are made up of approximately 587,000 active-duty personnel plus 200,000 reserve and trained personnel that can be mobilized when needed, bringing the country's military manpower to about 787,000 total personnel. These numbers do not include Law Enforcement Command or Basij.Most of Iran's imported weapons consist of American systems purchased before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, with limited purchases from Russia in the 1990s following the Iran–Iraq War. However, the country has since then launched a robust domestic rearmament program, and its inventory has become increasingly indigenous. According to Iranian officials, most of the country's military hardware is domestically manufactured, and the country had already become an exporter of arms by the 2000s. Unable to import weapon systems from abroad due to international and U.S. sanctions, and suffering from an increasingly aging air force fleet, Iran has invested considerable funds into an ambitious ballistic and cruise missile program for long-range strike capability, and has manufactured different types of arms and munitions, including tanks, armoured vehicles and drones, as well as various naval assets and aerial defense systems.Iran's ballistic missile and space program is an internationally hot political topic over which it has consistently refused to negotiate. Iranian authorities state that the country's missile program is not designed to deliver nuclear payloads, but used only for surgical strikes, and is therefore not relevant to any nuclear negotiations with the P5+1.The Iranian drone program has also raised concerns across the Middle East and much of the Western world, especially with proliferation among Iranian-allied forces in the Middle East, as well as exports to countries hostile to the U.S. According to U.S. Central Command chief Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, the U.S is "for the first time since the Korean War operating without complete air superiority" due to threats posed by Iranian drones.All branches of the armed forces fall under the command of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces. The Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics is responsible for planning logistics and funding of the armed forces and is not involved with in-the-field military operational command. The commander-in-chief of the armed forces is the Supreme Leader.
A large explosion at the Kalsu military base in Babylon, Iraq, resulted in injuries and material losses, with one PMF fighter killed and six wounded. The cause is unconfirmed, but two security sources suspect an air strike from an unknown source. The base, previously used by US forces, is now utilized by Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). The PMF did not confirm any deaths initially, stating an investigation is ongoing. The incident occurred a day after Israel retaliated against Iran, with no casualties reported from three drones intercepted at Iranian sites near Isfahan.
Israel's Iron Dome air defense system, developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries, is a sophisticated defense mechanism designed to intercept short-range rockets and artillery targeting Israeli airspace. It consists of components like radar units, control units, firing units, and interceptor missiles, which work together to detect and destroy incoming threats. Recently, during a five-hour barrage from Iran, Israel's air defense systems, including the Iron Dome, successfully thwarted the attack with the help of U.S.-led allies, showcasing the effectiveness of this defense technology.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF; Hebrew: צְבָא הַהֲגָנָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל , lit. 'The Army for the Defense of Israel'), alternatively referred to by the Hebrew-language acronym Tzahal (צה״ל), is the national military of the State of Israel. It consists of three service branches: the Israeli Ground Forces, the Israeli Air Force, and the Israeli Navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security apparatus. The IDF is headed by the Chief of the General Staff, who is subordinate to the Israeli Defense Minister.On the orders of David Ben-Gurion, the IDF was formed on 26 May 1948 and began to operate as a conscript military, drawing its initial recruits from the already-existing paramilitaries of the Yishuv—namely Haganah, the Irgun, and Lehi. It was formed shortly after the Israeli Declaration of Independence, and has participated in every armed conflict involving Israel. In the wake of the 1979 Egypt–Israel peace treaty and the 1994 Israel–Jordan peace treaty, the IDF underwent a significant strategic realignment. Previously spread across various fronts—Lebanon and Syria in the north, Jordan and Iraq in the east, and Egypt in the south—the IDF redirected its focus towards southern Lebanon and its occupation of the Palestinian territories, the Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. In 2000, the IDF withdrew from Southern Lebanon and in 2005 from Gaza. Conflict between Israel and Islamist groups based in Gaza, notably Hamas, has continued since then. Moreover, notable Israeli–Syrian border incidents have occurred frequently since 2011, due to regional instability caused by the Syrian civil war.Since 1967, the IDF maintains a close security relationship with the United States, including in research and development cooperation, with joint efforts on the F-15I, the Tactical High-Energy Laser, and the Arrow defense systen, among others. The IDF is believed to have maintained an operational nuclear weapons capability since 1967, possibly possessing between 80 and 400 nuclear warheads.
The EU could impose new sanctions on Iran after Tehran's direct attack on Israel, several diplomats said on Monday evening after talks between members' envoys. The issue is likely to be discussed this Tuesday during a video conference of foreign ministers called by the bloc's top diplomat Josep Borrell . It comes after Iran directly attacked Israel on Saturday, for the first time in the history of the Islamic Republic, in retaliation for the killing of high-ranking Iranian officers in Syria at the start of the month. New punitive measures could be imposed through a sanctions regime set up after Iran began supporting the Russian war on Ukraine by supplying Moscow with drones. The measures banned the export of components used for the construction and production of unmanned aerial vehicles to Iran.
The Group of Seven (G7) condemned Iran for its attacks on Israel and general behaviour on Friday but also called on both parties to de-escalate amid reports of Israeli retaliation. A meeting of foreign ministers from the group of industrialized democracies had been under way on the Italian island of Capri since Wednesday. A communique to mark the end of the meeting said: "In light of reports of strikes on April 19, we urge all parties to work to prevent further escalation. The G7 will continue to work to this end. "We call on all parties, both in the region and beyond, to offer their positive contribution to this collective effort.
The Iran–Iraq War was an armed conflict between Iran and Iraq that lasted from September 1980 to August 1988. Active hostilities began with the Iraqi invasion of Iran and lasted for eight years, until the acceptance of United Nations Security Council Resolution 598 by both sides. Iraq's primary rationale for the attack against Iran cited the need to prevent Ruhollah Khomeini—who had spearheaded the Iranian Revolution in 1979—from exporting the new Iranian ideology to Iraq. There were also fears among the Iraqi leadership of Saddam Hussein that Iran, a theocratic state with a population predominantly composed of Shia Muslims, would exploit sectarian tensions in Iraq by rallying Iraq's Shia majority against the Baʽathist government, which was officially secular and dominated by Sunni Muslims. Iraq also wished to replace Iran as the power player in the Persian Gulf, which was not seen as an achievable objective prior to the Islamic Revolution because of Pahlavi Iran's economic and military superiority as well as its close relationships with the United States and Israel.The Iran–Iraq War followed a long-running history of territorial border disputes between the two states, as a result of which Iraq planned to retake the eastern bank of the Shatt al-Arab that it had ceded to Iran in the 1975 Algiers Agreement. Iraqi support for Arab separatists in Iran increased following the outbreak of hostilities; Saddam disputedly may have wished to annex Iran's Arab-majority Khuzestan province. While the Iraqi leadership had hoped to take advantage of Iran's post-revolutionary chaos and expected a decisive victory in the face of a severely weakened Iran, the Iraqi military only made progress for three months, and by December 1980, the Iraqi invasion had stalled. The Iranian military began to gain momentum against the Iraqis and regained all lost territory by June 1982. After pushing Iraqi forces back to the pre-war border lines, Iran rejected United Nations Security Council Resolution 514 and launched an invasion of Iraq. The subsequent Iranian offensive within Iraqi territory lasted for five years, with Iraq taking back the initiative in mid-1988 and subsequently launching a series of major counter-offensives that ultimately led to the conclusion of the war in a stalemate.The eight years of war-exhaustion, economic devastation, decreased morale, military stalemate, inaction by the international community towards the use of weapons of mass destruction by Iraqi forces on Iranian soldiers and civilians, as well as increasing Iran–United States military tensions all culminated in Iran's acceptance of a ceasefire brokered by the United Nations Security Council. In total, around 500,000 people were killed during the Iran–Iraq War, with Iran bearing the larger share of the casualties, excluding the tens of thousands of civilians killed in the concurrent Anfal campaign that targeted Iraqi Kurdistan. The end of the conflict resulted in neither reparations nor border changes, and the combined financial losses suffered by both combatants is believed to have exceeded US$1 trillion. There were a number of proxy forces operating for both countries: Iraq and the pro-Iraqi Arab separatist militias in Iran were most notably supported by the National Council of Resistance of Iran; whereas Iran re-established an alliance with the Iraqi Kurds, being primarily supported by the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. During the conflict, Iraq received an abundance of financial, political, and logistical aid from the United States, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, France, Italy, Yugoslavia, and the overwhelming majority of Arab countries. While Iran was comparatively isolated to a large degree, it received a significant amount of aid from Syria, Libya, China, North Korea, Israel, Pakistan, and South Yemen.The conflict has been compared to World War I in terms of the tactics used by both sides, including large-scale trench warfare with barbed wire stretched across fortified defensive lines, manned machine-gun posts, bayonet charges, Iranian human wave attacks, Iraq's extensive use of chemical weapons, and deliberate attacks on civilian targets. The discourses on martyrdom formulated in the Iranian Shia Islamic context led to the widespread usage of human wave attacks and thus had a lasting impact on the dynamics of the conflict.
The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF; Persian: نیروی هوایی ارتش جمهوری اسلامی ایران, romanized: Nirvi-ye Hevayi-ye Artesh-e Jimhuri-ye Eslâmi-ye Iran) is the aviation branch of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army. The present air force came into being when the Imperial Iranian Air Force was renamed in 1979 following the Iranian Revolution. The IRIAF was heavily involved in the Iran–Iraq War, carrying out major operations like Operation Kaman 99, Operation Sultan 10, the H-3 airstrike, and the first attack on a nuclear reactor in history, Operation Scorch Sword. As a result of eight years of aerial combat in that conflict, the IRIAF has the second highest claimed number of fighter aces in the region, exceeded only by the Israeli Air Force; as many as seven IRIAF pilots claimed more than six kills, mostly achieved in the F-14 Tomcat. Veterans of the Iran–Iraq War would go on to form the core of the IRIAF command.
Iran has several research sites, two uranium mines, a research reactor, and uranium processing facilities that include three known uranium enrichment plants.Commencing in the 1950s with support from the United States (under the Atoms for Peace program), Iran's nuclear program was initially geared toward peaceful scientific exploration. In 1970, Iran ratified the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), subjecting its nuclear activities to IAEA inspections. After the 1979 Iranian Revolution, cooperation ceased and Iran pursued its nuclear program clandestinely.An investigation by the IAEA was launched as declarations by the National Council of Resistance of Iran in 2002 revealed undeclared Iranian nuclear activities. In 2006, Iran's noncompliance with its NPT obligations moved the United Nations Security Council to demand Iran suspend its programs.In 2007, the United States National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) stated Iran halted an alleged active nuclear weapons program in 2003. In November 2011, the IAEA reported credible evidence that Iran had been conducting experiments aimed at designing a nuclear bomb, and that research may have continued on a smaller scale after that time. On 1 May 2018 the IAEA reiterated its 2015 report, saying it had found no credible evidence of nuclear weapons activity after 2009.Operational since September 2011, the Bushehr I reactor marked Iran's entry into nuclear power with Russia's assistance. This became an important milestone for Rosatom to become the largest player in the world nuclear power market. Anticipated to reach full capacity by the end of 2012, Iran had also begun constructing a new 300 MW Darkhovin Nuclear Power Plant and expressed plans for additional medium-sized nuclear power plants and uranium mines in the future.Despite the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) aimed at addressing Iran's nuclear concerns, the U.S. withdrawal in 2018 prompted renewed sanctions, impacting diplomatic relations. The IAEA certified Iran's compliance up until 2019, but subsequent breaches strained the agreement. In a 2020 IAEA report, Iran was said to have breached the JCPOA and faced criticism from signatories.In 2021, Iran faced scrutiny regarding its assertion that the nuclear program was exclusively for peaceful purposes, especially with references to growth in satellites, missiles, and nuclear weapons.In April 2022, Atomic Energy Organization of Iran head Mohammad Eslami announced a strategic plan for 10 GWe of nuclear electricity generation.In October 2023, an IAEA report estimated Iran has increased its uranium stockpile twenty-two times over the 2015 agreed JCPOA limit.
Foreign ministers from G7 countries, including Italy, UK, US, France, Germany, Japan, and Canada, criticize Israel's military offensive in Gaza, particularly in Rafah, where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans a ground assault. The G7 ministers stress their opposition to a full-scale military operation in Rafah due to its catastrophic impact on civilians. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlights the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, with limited aid reaching the region amidst Israeli restrictions, risking famine and preventable deaths.
The Syrian civil war (Arabic: ٱلْحَرْبُ ٱلْأَهْلِيَّةُ ٱلسُّورِيَّةُ, romanized: al-ḥarb al-ʾahlīyah al-sūrīyah) is an ongoing multi-sided conflict in Syria involving various state-sponsored and non-state actors.In March 2011, popular discontent with the rule of Bashar al-Assad triggered large-scale protests and pro-democracy rallies across Syria, as part of the wider Arab Spring protests in the region. After months of crackdown by governments security apparatus, various armed rebel groups such as the Free Syrian Army began forming across the country, marking the beginning of the Syrian insurgency. By mid-2012, the crisis had escalated into a full-blown civil war.Receiving arms from NATO and GCC states, rebel forces initially made significant advances against the government forces, who were receiving arms from Iran and Russia. Rebels captured the regional capitals of Raqqa in 2013 and Idlib in 2015. Consequently, in September 2015, Russia launched a military intervention in support of the government, shifting the balance of the conflict. By late 2018, all rebel strongholds, except parts of Idlib region, had fallen to the government forces.In 2014, the Islamic State group seized control of large parts of Eastern Syria and Western Iraq, prompting the U.S.-led CJTF coalition to launch aerial bombing campaign against it, while providing ground support to the Kurdish-majority Syrian Democratic Forces. Culminating in the Battle of Raqqa, the Islamic State was territorially defeated by late 2017. In August 2016, Turkey launched a multi-pronged invasion of northern Syria, in response to the creation of Rojava, while also fighting Islamic State and government forces in the process. Since the March 2020 Idlib ceasefire, the frontline fighting during the conflict has mostly subsided, and has been characterized by regular skirmishes.
The Arab–Israeli conflict is the phenomenon involving political tension, military conflicts, and other disputes between various Arab countries and Israel, which escalated during the 20th century. The roots of the Arab–Israeli conflict have been attributed to the support by Arab League member countries for the Palestinians, a fellow League member, in the ongoing Israeli–Palestinian conflict; this in turn has been attributed to the simultaneous rise of Zionism and Arab nationalism towards the end of the 19th century, though the two national movements had not clashed until the 1920s.Part of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict arose from the conflicting claims by these movements to the land that formed the British Mandatory Palestine, which was regarded by the Jewish people as their ancestral homeland, while at the same time it was regarded by the Pan-Arab movement as historically and currently belonging to the Arab Palestinians, and in the Pan-Islamic context, as Muslim lands. The sectarian conflict within the British Mandate territory between Palestinian Jews and Arabs escalated into a full-scale Palestinian civil war in 1947. Taking the side of the Palestinian Arabs, especially following the Israeli Declaration of Independence, the neighbouring Arab countries invaded the by-then former Mandate territory in May 1948, commencing the First Arab–Israeli War. Large-scale hostilities mostly ended with ceasefire agreements after the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Peace agreements were signed between Israel and Egypt in 1979, resulting in Israeli withdrawal from the Sinai Peninsula and the abolition of the military governance system in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, in favor of Israeli Civil Administration and consequent unilateral annexation of the Golan Heights and East Jerusalem.The nature of the conflict has shifted over the years from the large-scale, regional Arab–Israeli conflict to a more local Israeli–Palestinian conflict, which peaked during the 1982 Lebanon War when Israel intervened in the Lebanese Civil War to oust the Palestinian Liberation Organization from Lebanon. With the decline of the 1987–1993 First Intifada, the interim Oslo Accords led to the creation of the Palestinian National Authority in 1994, within the context of the Israeli–Palestinian peace process. The same year, Israel and Jordan reached a peace accord. In 2002, the Arab League offered recognition of Israel by Arab countries as part of the resolution of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict in the Arab Peace Initiative. The initiative, which has been reconfirmed since, calls for normalizing relations between the Arab League and Israel, in exchange for a full withdrawal by Israel from the occupied territories (including East Jerusalem) and a "just settlement" of the Palestinian refugee problem based on UN Resolution 194. In the 1990s and early 2000s, a ceasefire had been largely maintained between Israel and Syria, while limited warfare continued in Lebanon against Iranian proxy militias. Despite the peace agreements with Egypt and Jordan, the interim peace accords with the Palestinian Authority and the generally existing ceasefire, until the mid-2010s the Arab League and Israel had remained at odds with each other over many issues. Among Arab belligerents in the conflict, Iraq and Syria are the only states who have reached no formal peace accord or treaty with Israel, with both supporting Iran.The Syrian civil war reshuffled the situation near Israel's northern border, putting the Syrian Arab Republic, Hezbollah and the Syrian opposition at odds with each other and complicating their relations with Israel, upon the emerging warfare with Iran. The conflict between Israel and Hamas-ruled Gaza, is also attributed to the Iran–Israel proxy conflict. By 2017, Israel and several Arab Sunni states led by Saudi Arabia formed a semi-official coalition to confront Iran. This move and the Israeli normalization with Gulf states was marked by some as the fading of the Arab–Israeli conflict.
Reports of explosions in Iran, Iraq, and Syria, along with expectations of Israeli responses to attacks from Iran, have led to stock market declines and increases in oil prices, with Brent crude surpassing $90 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate reaching nearly $86 per barrel The 10-year Treasury yield dropped 10 basis points, while the dollar and other haven assets strengthened Asian equities, including Japan and South Korea, fell more than 2%, while Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co and Infosys Ltd faced challenges due to the geopolitical risks and sales growth forecasts
The Biden administration has imposed sanctions on two entities accused of fundraising for extremist Israeli-occupied West Bank settlers who harass and attack Palestinians, as well as the founder of an organization whose members assault Palestinians. This move comes amidst escalating violence in the West Bank and tension between President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. The sanctioned entities, Mount Hebron Fund and Shlom Asiraich, raised funds for sanctioned settlers Yinon Levi and David Chai Chasdai. The penalties aim to restrict their access to the U.S. financial system and prevent dealings with American citizens.
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