In 2024, the Iran–Israel proxy conflict escalated to a series of direct confrontations between the two countries. On 1 April, Israel bombed an Iranian consulate complex in Damascus, Syria, killing multiple senior Iranian officials. In response, Iran and its Axis of Resistance allies seized the Israeli-linked ship MSC Aries and launched strikes inside Israel on 13 April.Israel then carried out retaliatory strikes in Iran and Syria on 19 April.
The Israeli strikes were limited, and analysts say they signaled a desire to de-escalate. Iran did not respond to the attack, and tensions de-escalated back down to the proxy conflict.
Other actors participated in the conflict as well. The United States, United Kingdom, France, and Jordan intercepted Iranian drones to defend Israel.Syria shot down some Israeli interceptors, and Iranian proxies in the region also attacked Israel.
Tensions increased after the 31 July assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, in Tehran, Iran. The killing of Haniyeh occurred a few hours after the 2024 Haret Hreik airstrike in Lebanon that assassinated Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr. Iran and Hezbollah pledged retaliation. On 1 October 2024, Iran launched a series of missiles at Israel. Israel then carried out more retaliatory strikes against Iran on 26 October.
On 12 June 2025, Israel launched several airstrikes against Iranian nuclear facilities and infrastructure.
