Iran-Israel Conflict
Origins and Proxy War Dimensions
The Iran-Israel conflict is a multi-decade strategic rivalry rooted in ideological, geopolitical, and security dynamics. Iran does not recognise Israel's existence and has funded, armed, and trained a network of regional non-state actors — collectively termed the "Axis of Resistance" — including Hezbollah (Lebanon), Hamas (Gaza), Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Houthis (Yemen), and various Iraqi militias. Israel has pursued a strategy known as the "Campaign Between Wars" (mabam) — a sustained, below-threshold campaign of covert strikes, assassinations, and cyberattacks against Iran's nuclear infrastructure, arms transfers, and military commanders — which escalated into open conflict in 2025–2026.
- "Axis of Resistance": Iran-led coalition of non-state armed groups across Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen, Iraq, Syria
- Key groups: Hezbollah (Lebanon), Hamas (Gaza), Houthis (Yemen), Kataib Hezbollah and PMF (Iraq)
- Israel's "Campaign Between Wars" (mabam): Proactive covert operations to prevent Iran from establishing footholds and transferring precision weapons
- Stuxnet (2010): US-Israel cyberattack on Iran's Natanz uranium enrichment centrifuges — first confirmed offensive cyberweapon against critical infrastructure
- 2024 direct exchanges: Israel and Iran exchanged direct missile and drone strikes in April and October 2024 for the first time in their rivalry
- 2025: 12-day air conflict preceded current 2026 escalation
● Tracked since March 04, 2026 · last seen March 27, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes