#IsraelIranConflict

**Israel and Iran Exchange Strikes as Tensions Escalate**

*April 2024* – The Middle East remains on high alert after Israel and Iran engaged in a series of retaliatory strikes, marking a dangerous escalation in their long-standing shadow war. The conflict intensified after an alleged Israeli airstrike on Iran’s consulate in Damascus on April 1 killed several Iranian military officials, including a senior commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

In response, Iran launched over 300 drones and missiles toward Israel on April 13, marking its first direct attack on Israeli soil. Most projectiles were intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome defense system and allied forces, causing minimal damage. Days later, Israel reportedly struck a military site near Isfahan, Iran, in a measured retaliation.

World leaders, including the U.S. and EU, have urged de-escalation, fearing a wider regional conflict. Analysts warn that further strikes could destabilize the already volatile Middle East, drawing in Hezbollah and other Iran-backed groups. Both nations have signaled reluctance for all-out war, but the risk of miscalculation remains high.