Israel and Iran have always been hostile. Which major recent events set the stage for Iran’s attack on Israel?

After years of hostility between the two nations, Iran launched a stunning aerial strike on Israel, the country’s first direct military assault on Israel. In the six months since Hamas attacked Israel, starting a war that still poses a danger to escalating and including the whole region, enmity between the two nations has only grown.

The following summarises the major occasions that preceded Iran’s attack:

Israel is attacked by Hamas
October 7: According to Israeli police, thousands of terrorists headed by Hamas flood into Israel, murdering 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and kidnapping around 250 more. According to local health experts, the attack set off a catastrophic conflict that has claimed the lives of over 33,700 individuals, the majority of whom were women and children. Hamas expects that other adversaries of Israel in the area will follow suit and launch their own attack. US President Joe Biden offers military assistance to the Middle East and cautions Israel’s adversaries in the area not to get involved.

Hezbollah becomes a minor player in the conflict
October 8: One day after the assault by Hamas, the Iran-backed Hezbollah, a Shiite organisation in Lebanon, opens fire on Israel. This starts months of lethal, low-intensity cross-border conflict that resulted in the displacement of tens of thousands of people on both sides of the border.

Houthis launches a staged assault
November: With Iranian backing, the Yemeni rebels commence a campaign of drone and missile strikes against Red Sea maritime assets in November, claiming that this is their method of putting pressure on Israel to stop fighting Hamas. They also launch missiles against Israel, although most of them miss their target or are intercepted.

Most people blame Israel for the Damascus attack.
First of April: In the Syrian capital, an attack on an Iranian consulate facility results in the deaths of two Iranian generals who were part of the Revolutionary Guards, the paramilitary force of Iran. Although Israel denies responsibility, the attack is generally attributed to it. Iran vows retaliation.

Iran strikes Israel with a massive aerial attack
14 April: Israel claims that Iran has fired over 300 drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles. This is an incredible attack that is almost completely repelled by Israel’s aerial defence system and a coalition of nations opposing the onslaught. The world waits to see how Israel will respond, even while no significant harm is done.