The war between Israel and Iran stems from a long-standing conflict marked by decades of animosity, ideological opposition, and proxy warfare. The Islamic Revolution of 1979 led Iran to adopt an openly hostile stance toward Israel, rejecting its legitimacy, and calling for its destruction. Israel views Iran's nuclear program as an existential threat, fearing Iran could develop nuclear weapons. The recent escalation in 2024 involved direct military strikes between the two countries, following years of proxy conflicts involving Iranian-backed groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah. Israel sees these groups as terrorist organizations supported by Iran to destabilize the region. Key reasons for the war include Iran's ideological opposition to Israel, the threat Israel perceives from Iran's nuclear ambitions, and the breakdown of earlier diplomatic agreements like the 2015 JCPOA nuclear deal, especially after the U.S. withdrawal in 2018. Tensions rose with assassinations and airstrikes targeting Iranian military leaders and infrastructure, leading to reciprocal missile and drone attacks. Israel's goal has included undermining Iran's military capability and preventing it from becoming a regional power that can threaten Israel directly.
In summary, the war is driven by deep ideological hostility, security concerns over nuclear weapons, proxy conflicts in the region, and recent escalations involving direct military actions between Israel and Iran.
