Iran and Israel have been locked in a longstanding proxy conflict since the 1970s. Both countries have also launched subtle military operations against each other. However, after Israel bombed an Iranian consulate complex in Damascus on 1 April 2024, the Iran-Israel Proxy War escalated to a series of direct confrontations.
However, after Israel bombed an Iranian consulate complex in Damascus on 1 April 2024, the Iran-Israel Proxy War escalated to a series of direct confrontations.
Explaining the Origins of Conflict Between Iran and Israel and the Specific Factors Behind the Ongoing Iran-Israel Conflict
Background: Turning Point in the Early History of the Iran-Israel Relationship
Several Islamists in Iran have a long history of supporting the cause of Palestinians. Iranian figures like ayatollah Mahmoud Taleghani headed fundraising efforts for Palestine after the Six-Day War in 1967 and politician and revolutionary leader Ruhollah Khomeini championed these people even before he became the Supreme Leader in 1979.
It is still worth mentioning that Iran under the Pahlavi dynasty and Israel had close relations before the revolution. Both countries shared a common strategic interest centered on the containment of Arab nationalism and the influence of the Soviet Union in the Middle East. This resulted in a de facto alliance and close intelligence cooperation.
Khomeini became the Supreme Leader of Iran following the 1979 Iranian Revolution. This event saw the removal of the Pahlavi dynasty and a prompt shift from monarchy to a hybrid government structure with theocratic and democratic elements. The government broke ties with the United States and adopted a policy of hostility toward Israel.
The Iranian government under Khomeini considered Israel as a colonial outpost that promotes the interest of the West. Iran then withdrew recognition of Israel as a state, severed all diplomatic and economic ties with the country, called the Israeli government a Zionist regime, and referred to the entire land under Israel as occupied Palestine.
It is interesting to note that Israel supported Iran during the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq War despite the tension. The Israeli government specifically provided military equipment and military instructors. This support was based on strategic self-interest. Israel considered the more hostile Iraq under the leadership of Saddam Hussein as the greater threat.
Proxy War: Pushing Ideological Differences and Geopolitical Interests
Proxies are states, belligerents or groups, and other non-state actors that are supported, directed, or influenced by external power or a third-party actor to advance the interests of that actor without direct military engagement. Iran and Israel have been engaged in a proxy war for decades. This was fought largely through third parties.
The proxy war between the two countries does not stem from a single issue. It represents a deeply entrenched conflict fueled by a complex interplay of ideological differences, geopolitical issues, and security concerns. These factors are the main driving force behind the Iran-Israel conflict. Take note of the following important issues and reasons:
• Ideological and Religious Difference: Iran has positioned itself as a leader of resistance against Western power since the 1979 Iranian Revolution. It sees Israel as a tool of Western imperialism in the Middle East. Israel considers hostile regional groups and countries like Iran as threats to its existence as a Jewish state.
• The Palestinian Resistance Issue: Palestine has also been in conflict with Israel over land disputes. Iran has long championed the Palestinian cause and provides significant material and financial support to groups like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. This support allows it to claim leadership of resistance against Israel.
• Regional Hegemony and Power Projection: Both countries seek to maintain power and influence in the region. Iran wants to become the dominant regional power leading the Axis of Resistance against the U.S. Israel wants to maintain its military edge and prevent any regional power from posing an existential threat.
• The Iranian Nuclear Program: The Begin Doctrine of Israel, which was adopted in 1981 and named after former Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, asserts that the country will not allow hostile states in the region to acquire nuclear weapons. The nuclear program of Iran has been scrutinized due to its threat to global peace.
The Axis of Resistance strategy of Iran is based on the fact that it does not have the capability to directly confront the superiority of the Israel Defense Force. Its workaround is to cultivate a network of armed groups across the Middle East. These groups are located near the borders of Israel or in areas that can threaten the interest of the Israeli government.
Some of the notable Iranian proxies are Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Palestine, the Houthi Rebels in Yemen, and Shia Militias in Iraq and Syria. Israel counters the impact of these proxies through its War Between Wars strategy. This involves continuous but low-grade military operations against the Iranian interest.
The Iran-Israel Proxy War has persisted because both countries have significant levels of military capabilities. A full-scale war would be devastating for both sides. Proxies allow them to inflict damage and signal intent without further escalation. This demonstrates mutual deterrence. But this does not mean that a full-blown escalation is impossible.
Escalation: Series of Direct Military Confrontations Between Iran and Israel
The longstanding proxy war between Iran and Israel escalated to a series of direct confrontations on 1 April 2024 after Israel conducted an airstrike on an Iranian consulate complex in Damascus, Syria, and killed 7 Iranian soldiers and 1 Iranian advisor. Israel claims that the facility was not an embassy but a disguised military building of the Quds Force.
Iran and its Axis of Resistance responded by seizing the alleged Israel-linked MSC Aries container ship in the Gulf of Oman and launching the Operation True Promise strikes inside Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights with loitering munitions, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles on 13 April 2024. This marked the first direct Iranian attack on Israel.
Both countries have been engaged in retaliatory strikes since. Israel carried its a large-scale aerial assault called Operating Rising Lion on 13 June 2025 through the IDF and Mossad. It was aimed at various military and nuclear facilities in more than a dozen locations in Iran. Iran noted that more than 224 Iranians were killed and another 1277 injured.
Iran responded with a barrage of attacks at 1 in the morning on 14 June 2025 consisting of dozens of missiles. These attacks persisted in the following days and targeted Tel Aviv and other military bases. The Iranian Foreign Minister stated that Iran has the legal and legitimate right to respond to Israeli attacks under the Charter of the United Nations.
Understanding the Causes of the Iran-Israel Conflict, Including the Origin of the Proxy War and the Factors Behind the Escalation
The entire Iran-Israel Conflict is a complex and deeply rooted rivalry with multiple contributing factors. The most notable ones are ideological differences stemming from religious leanings and the perceived existential threat of each country. Both countries have felt the need to assert their geopolitical interest by building regional power and influence.
Iran embraced the notion that Israel and its closest ally, the United States, are detrimental to the interest of the Arab World since the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Israel, on the other hand, views the nuclear program of Iran as the greatest threat to its national security and regional peace. It believes that hostile countries in the region should not acquire nuclear weapons.
Hence, as part of its anti-Israel stance, Iran has built a network of proxy groups across the regions to serve its strategic goal of challenging Israel and building its regional influence. This also means supporting the Palestinian cause through various proxies in Palestine. Israel has carried out regular assaults on these proxies to weaken the influence and capabilities of Iran.
The proxy war demonstrated how countries were locked in some sort of mutual deterrence. This meant that a full-scale war would result in mutual destruction. However, considering recent events due to conflict escalation, either this mutual deterrence was an illusion or Israel has perceived that Iran has a weakening geopolitical power and influence.
It is also worth mentioning that the growing intensity of the conflict can result in a miscalculation or misinterpretation of red lines. This means misreading what the other party will tolerate before resorting to further direct actions. The cost of direct war remains too high for both sides but each feels the need to respond to attacks to signal influence and capabilities.
FURTHER READINGS AND REFERENCES
- Cohen, R. A., and Shamci, G. P. 2022. “The ‘Proxy Wars’ Strategy in Iranian Regional Foreign Policy. The Journal of the Middle East and Africa. 13(4): 385-405. DOI: 1080/21520844.2022.2061789
- Froman, M. 13 June 2025. “Israel and Iran: An Early Read.” Council on Foreign Relations. Available online
- Katz, Y. and Hendel, Y. 2012. Israel vs. Iran: The Shadow War. Potomac Books. ISBN: 978-1597976688
- Menashri, D. 2011. Post-Revolutionary Politics in Iran: Religion, Society and Power. Routledge. ISBN: 978-0714681214