Iran–Israel proxy conflict | |||||||
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Israel (Orange) and Iran (Dark Green) in the Middle East |
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Belligerents | |||||||
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Supported by: |
Supported by: |
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Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Ali Khamenei (Supreme Leader of Iran) Hassan Rouhani (President of Iran) Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (2005-2013) Hassan Nasrallah (Secretary-General of Hezbollah) Khaled Meshaal (Hamas leader) |
Benjamin Netanyahu (Prime Minister of Israel) Ehud Olmert (2006–2009) |
Proxies:
Proxies:
Supported by:
Supported by:
The Israel–Iran proxy conflict or Israeli-Iranian proxy war is the ongoing indirect conflict between Israel and Iran. The conflict is bound in the political struggle between Iranian leadership and Israel, with the counter aim of Israel to prevent alleged nuclear weapons from the Iranian government and downgrading its allies and proxies such as Hezbollah party in Lebanon. Iranian forces are operating in Syria in support of Bashar al-Assad's government. Israel has provided medical treatment for Syrian civilians and rebels, including some members of al-Nusra Front, which has caused strife amongst the Israeli Druze community.
Israel and Syria have observed a truce since Israel reaffirmed its control over most of the Golan Heights in the 1973 war, but the Syrian Civil War, which began in 2011, has led to several incidents of fire exchange across the once-peaceful borders. The Israeli military is reportedly preparing itself for potential threats should there be a power vacuum in Syria. "After Assad and after establishing or strengthening their foothold in Syria they are going to move and deflect their effort and attack Israel," an Israeli official told The Associated Press in January 2014. Some experts say that while the encroaching militant forces on Israel's border will heighten security measures, the advancements are not likely to create significant changes to Israel’s policy disengagement in the Syria crisis.