1979–2022: The shadow theatre
1979: Following Iran’s Islamic Revolution, the two countries become sworn adversaries.
2007–2021: A cycle of covert operations unfolds—cyberattacks (e.g., Stuxnet), assassinations of nuclear scientists, suspected Israeli strikes on Iranian generals (Mohsen Fakhrizadeh in 2021), and Iran’s support to Hamas, Hezbollah, and other proxies.
October 2023 – Hamas war ignites wider conflict
Oct 7, 2023: Hamas attacks Israel, triggering war in Gaza.
Oct 8, 2023: Hezbollah (Iran-aligned) enters conflict with low‑intensity exchanges.
Nov 2023: Iran-backed Houthis target Red Sea shipping.
2024: First direct Iran–Israel strikes
Apr 1, 2024: Israel bombards the Iranian consulate in Damascus, killing senior IRGC commanders—the first strike on diplomatic premises.
Apr 13, 2024: Iran retaliates directly with ~300 missiles and drones against Israel. Most are intercepted by a western coalition.
Jul 31, 2024: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh is assassinated in Tehran; Iran and Hamas blame Israel.
Sep 23‑27, 2024: Israel stages massive airstrikes in Lebanon targeting Hezbollah; 700+ killed.
Sep 27, 2024: Israeli strike kills Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah; Iran vows retaliation.
Oct 1, 2024: Iran fires ~200 ballistic missiles at Israel—its second direct assault.
Oct 26, 2024: Israel retaliates with large-scale strikes on military sites in Iran.
June 2025: All-out warfare
Jun 13–15, 2025:
June 13: Operation Rising Lion—Israel launches airstrikes across Iranian nuclear, missile, IRGC, and military infrastructure, reportedly killing commanders and scientists.
Simultaneously, Mossad executes covert drone strikes inside Iran to disable missile launchers and air-defenses—marking the rise of hybrid warfare.
In response, on June 13, Iran fires over 150 ballistic missiles and ~100 drones under “Operation True Promise‑3,” injuring ~22 Israelis.
Jun 15–21, 2025: Civilian life in Tehran is disrupted—mass exodus, fuel shortages, Internet slowdowns—as Israeli strikes continue.
Jun 21, 2025: Iran’s foreign minister warns that U.S. involvement would be “very, very dangerous” and cancels diplomatic talks in Muscat.
Jun 22, 2025:
The U.S., joining forces with Israel, conducts Operation Midnight Hammer—overnight airstrikes on Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan using B‑2 bombers and Tomahawks. President Trump declares the sites “totally obliterated.” Iran disputes the severity.
Iran fires approximately 20 missiles, injuring civilians; sirens blare in northern Israel as public gatherings are halted.
Jun 23, 2025: Israel remains under missile threat; Prime Minister Netanyahu asserts progress toward neutralizing threats—while Iran deploys its new Kheybar Shekan missile system.
Ongoing: The Strait of Hormuz closure looms, global oil markets tremble, international powers call for restraint—but rhetoric hints at regime change and deeper escalation.