Israel has overtime seen Iran as an existential threat, and accuses its regime of harboring genocidal intentions. Consequently, Israel has sought sanctions and military action against Iran to stop it from acquiring nuclear weapons.
However in the early hours of 13 June 2025, all gloves were off and it was gong ho as the IDF launched a large-scale strike targeting Iranian nuclear facilities and military infrastructure. Reports have it that as early as 6:30 am that morning, (IDT), the Israeli Air Force had carried out five waves of strikes.
The causes for the open antagonism between these two countries is yet to be figured out. Some, even say that it is spiritual, as these are peoples that have been at daggers drawn since the Old Testamental narrations of the Bible. Iran and Israel have had no formal diplomatic relations since 1979, and modern relations are hostile. The Iran–Israel relationship was cordial for most of the Cold War, but worsened following the Iranian revolution in 1979 and has been openly hostile since the end of the Gulf War in 1991.
