From the late 1960s and post-1969, both Israel and Iran were two powerful nations in the Middle East with opposite beliefs, visions, and ambitions.
On one side was Israel, a small but strong country, born in 1948 as a homeland for the Jewish people after World War II. Since its creation, Israel has fought many battles to survive and grow.
Over the years, it built a powerful military, a strong economy, and formed close friendships with countries like the United States.
On the other side was Iran, an ancient land with a proud history. In 1979, its people rose up and changed their country completely. A king was overthrown, and a new religious government was born — one that followed Islamic laws and leaders called Ayatollahs.
This new Iran declared itself a protector of Islam and a challenger of Western influence, especially in the Middle East.
From the very beginning, Iran saw Israel not as a neighbour, but as an enemy.
The Iranian leaders believed that Israel had no right to exist and supported the Palestinians who lost their land when Israel was created.
Over time, Iran began helping groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza — groups that were ready to fight Israel.
Meanwhile, Israel watched closely. It saw Iran’s support for its enemies and grew more worried, especially when Iran began working on nuclear technology.
Israel feared that if Iran ever built a nuclear bomb, it could be used to destroy them. So, Israel started taking action — through secret missions, cyberattacks, and airstrikes — trying to slow Iran down.
But the fight was not a direct war. It was a shadow war — quiet, hidden, but deadly. Iran used proxy fighters (militant groups it supported), while Israel used spy agencies and fighter jets.
The battles happened not only in Israel and Iran, but in places like Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and Gaza.
As years passed, the tension only grew. Israel stood firm, defending its land and warning the world about Iran’s ambitions. Iran, on the other hand, kept speaking against Israel, supporting its enemies, and refusing to back down.
Today, even though they have never declared war on each other, the war of words, weapons, and warnings continues.
Iran has long been a major backer of Hamas, providing funding (up to ~$100 million per year), weapons, and training—primarily through its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Quds Force. In the buildup to Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, Iran reportedly hosted IRGC-led meetings and training sessions in Beirut and Iran, preparing around 500 Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters.
In June 2025, Iran launched a direct missile-and-drone barrage against Israel—firing over 150 ballistic missiles and more than 100 drones—following Israeli airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure. In response, Israel also conducted airstrikes inside Iran, targeting strategic military and nuclear sites.
Despite this escalation, Iran’s “Axis of Resistance” proxies—including Hezbollah, Hamas, and Iraqi militias—have remained largely inactive, appearing either hesitant or constrained in their response.
To safeguard its citizens amid the growing conflict, India has launched Operation Sindhu, an evacuation mission aimed at bringing Indian nationals safely back from Iran.
