Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
Things took a turn for the worse in 1979.
Things took a turn for the worse in 1979.
Also read: Israel vs Iran: How Strong Are Their Armies?
What is happening?
Friday morning, Israel launched an attack against Iran, hitting multiple nuclear facilities and the headquarters of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.
Iran has retaliated by sending more than 100 drones at Israel.
How did it come to this?
It may be hard to believe, but Israel and Iran used to be allies.
Back in the 1970’s, Iran had a pro-Western leader, who saw Israel as an ally, but things took a turn for the worse in 1979.
1979: The Islamic Revolution
Iran’s pro-Western leader, Mohammad Reza Shah, is remowed from power during the Islamic revolution.
The revolutionary forces install a theogratic regime, which is in opposition to Israel ideologically speaking.
1982: Hezollah is born
Israel invades Lebanon, where Iran’s Revolutionary Guard is working with the Shi’ite Muslims to set up Hezbollah.
1983: Suicide bombers
Suicide bombings backed by Iran is used to expel Israeli and Western forces from Lebanon.
1992-1994: Argentina joins in
Suicide bombings at Israel’s embassy in Buenos Aires and a Jewish centre, also in Buenos Aires, are blamed on Hezbollah by both Israel and Argentina.
2002: The nuclear rumors
New information emerges that Iran has a secret nuclear programme to enrich uranium, a key fuel source in nuclear energy, but also a component in nuclear weapons.
Israel urges international action.
2009: Israel is “a fatal cancer”
In 2009, the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a speech that Israel is “a dangerous and fatal cancer”.
2018: US withdraws from nuclear deal
During his first term as President, Donald Trump withdrew the US from Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers.
Israeli PM, Benjamin Netanyahu, hails Trump for doing so, as Israel had been lobbying against the agreement for years.
2020: US assassinates Iranian General
An American drone strike in Baghdad, the capitol of Iraq, kills Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.
Israel welcomes the assassination.
2021: The Blame Game
After another assassination, this time on suspected mastermind by a covert Iranian programme to develop nuclear weapons, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, Iran blames Israel.
Iran has long denied any ambitions regarding the acquisition of nuclear weapons.
April 2024: Iranian embassy hit, Israel suspect
Seven Revolutionary Guard officers are killed in Damascus, capital of Syria, when an Iranian embassy compund is hit in a suspected Israeli airstrike.
Israel neither confirms nor denies responsibility.
Iran retaliates by sending missiles and drones in a direct attack on Israeli territory. Israel then retaliates by launching an attack os Iranian soil six days later.
October 2024: 180 missiles as revenge
As revenge for the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Hamas chief Ismail Hanieh, Iran launches over 180 missiles at Israel.
June 2025: Israel strikes Iranian nuclear programme
This brings us to present day, where Israel has launched an attack on several sites connected with the Iranian nuclear programme.
In a recorded video message to the public, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, says that the operation could continue for days.