Iran–Israel Cold War

The **Iran–Israel proxy conflict** is an ongoing political and armed tension between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the State of Israel.

The two countries have involved in direct and indirect engagements, both have participated in indirect conflicts through proxy disputes. Especially, Iran has created a front against Israel and has provided numerous resources to anti-Israeli groups. Although both nations were once allies and cooperated strongly with the United States diplomatically, economically and politically under the Imperial State of Iran, that all changed after the Iranian Revolution of 1979 which established an Islamic nation of Iran that went against Israel (see Policy of Iran towards Israel).

Iran's proxy involvement against Israel began during the 1985–2000 South Lebanon conflict, in which Iran supported Hezbollah, an enemy of Israel.

## 2006 Lebanon War

In the 2006 Lebanon War, Iran had actively supported Hezbollah. Particularly, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had provided Hezbollah with heavy weapons and anti-tank missiles and also participated in some battles, providing military support to Hezbollah.

## Gaza–Israel conflict

Meanwhile, since the Gaza–Israel conflict broke out in the Gaza Strip in 2006, Iran has supported anti-Israeli groups like Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Also, Israel has began its support for many anti-Iranian government opposition armed groups to prevent Iran's nuclear development. Israel also strengthens its diplomatic relationships with the United States and Saudi Arabia, the two nations that are enemies of Iran.

## Syrian Civil War

In 2018, during the Syrian Civil War, Iran had supported the Syrian government and began a proxy conflict against Israel during the Civil War.

## Related pages

- Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict
- Arab–Israeli conflict
- Arab Cold War

## Infobox (military conflict)

- **conflict**: Iran–Israel proxy conflict
- **partof**: the Arab–Israeli conflict and the Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict
- **image**: Iran and Israel (without West Bank and Gaza).png
- **caption**: Israel (orange) and Iran (green) shown within the Middle East
- **date**: 16 February 1985present
()
- **place**: Various (primarily Middle East)
- **status**: Ongoing:
* Iran reinforces Ba'athist Syria, Syria and Hezbollah
* Israel tries to prevent Hezbollah–Iran relations, weapon transfers to Hezbollah
* 2006 Lebanon War ends in military stalemate and Israeli withdrawal
* Beginning of the ongoing Gaza–Israel conflict in June 2006
* Israel tries to stop the Nuclear program of Iran, Iranian nuclear program
* Iran grows major sphere of influence, spheres of influence in the Middle East
* Formation of the Arab–Israeli alliance
* Pause in Arab–Israeli normalization in 2023–present
* Iran provides munitions to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) in the Gaza Strip
* Escalation to a direct conflict between the two countries 2024 Iran–Israel conflict, in 2024 and Iran–Israel war, 2025
* 2026 Israeli–United States strikes on Iran and Assassination of Ali Khamenei
- **combatant1**:

- **combatant2**:

- **commander1**: Ali Khamenei
<small>(Supreme Leader of Iran, 1989–2026)</small>
 Masoud Pezeshkian
<small>(President of Iran, 2024–present)</small>
  Mohammad Mokhber <small>(briefly in 2024)</small>
 Ebrahim Raisi
<small>(2021–2024)</small>
 Hassan Rouhani
<small>(2013–2021)</small>
 Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
<small>(2005–2013)</small>
 Naim Qassem
<small>(Secretary-General of Hezbollah, 2024–present)</small>
 Hassan Nasrallah
<small>(Secretary-General of Hezbollah, 1992–2024)</small>
 Yahya Sinwar
<small>(List of leaders of Hamas, Hamas leader, August–October 2024)</small>
 Ismail Haniyeh
<small>(List of leaders of Hamas, Hamas leader, 2017–2024)</small>
 Khaled Mashal
<small>(List of leaders of Hamas, Hamas leader, 1996–2017)</small>
 Ahmad Sa'adat
<small> (PFLP Leader)</small>
 Ziyad al-Nakhalah
<small> (PIJ Leader)</small>
- **commander2**: Benjamin Netanyahu
 <small>(Prime Minister of Israel, 1996–1999; 2009–2021; 2022–present)</small>
 Ehud Barak
 <small>(1999–2001)</small>
 Ariel Sharon
 <small>(2001–2006)</small>
 Ehud Olmert
 <small>(2006–2009)</small>
 Naftali Bennett
 <small>(2021–2022)</small>
 Yair Lapid
 <small>(2022)</small>
 Ghassan Duhine <small>(Leader of the Popular Forces, 2025–present)</small>
  Yasser Abu Shabab
 <small>(Leader of the Popular Forces, 2023–2025)</small>
  Antoine Lahad
 <small>(Leader of the South Lebanon Army until 2000)</small>