#CardanoDebate The Israel-Iran conflict has escalated significantly, with both countries engaging in direct attacks. Here's what's happening:

*Recent Escalations*

- *Operation Rising Lion*: Israel launched airstrikes on Iranian soil, targeting nuclear infrastructure, missile factories, and top military personnel. This operation involved dozens of Israeli fighter jets and resulted in reported explosions in Tehran and the Natanz uranium enrichment facility.

- *Iranian Retaliation Expected*: Iran is likely to retaliate, potentially through direct missile strikes, proxy attacks, or cyber retaliation, increasing the risk of a wider regional war.

*Underlying Causes*

- *Nuclear Threat*: Israel sees Iran's pursuit of nuclear capabilities as an existential threat, while Iran denies pursuing nuclear weapons and accuses Israel of aggression and sabotage.

- *Proxy Wars*: Both countries have been engaged in a shadow war through proxies like Hezbollah and Hamas, with frequent attacks on each other's interests.

- *Ideological Differences*: The conflict is rooted in ideological differences, with Israel viewing Iran as a threat to its security and legitimacy, and Iran positioning itself as a leader of the anti-Israel resistance.

*International Involvement*

- *US Role*: The United States has distanced itself from Israel's recent airstrikes but remains invested in preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons. The US has also issued updated travel advisories and repositioned military assets in anticipation of potential fallout.¹