Israel, Iran, and the United States War. A 3-Part WhyPals News Story - Part 1

Why are Israel and Iran fighting?

Israel and Iran are two countries in the Middle East. Today they are enemies. But many years ago, they were not always like this. To understand this story, it helps to know where these countries are on the map.

Israel and Iran are both in a region called the Middle East. Israel is a small country near the Mediterranean Sea. Iran is a much larger country further to the east. The two countries are not next to each other. Between them are several other countries, including Jordan, Iraq, and Syria. Even though they are not neighbours, events in one country can still affect the other.

Before 1979, the leaders of Iran and Israel worked quietly with each other. They traded, shared information, and had some cooperation. The two countries were not very close friends, but they were not fighting either. Then something big happened in Iran.

In 1979, there was a revolution in the country. A revolution is when people remove their government and create a new one. The old ruler of Iran, called the Shah, lost power. A new government came into control of the country.

The new leaders believed Israel should not exist as a country. Because of this, Iran stopped working with Israel completely. The relationship between the two countries quickly became very tense. Over the next many years, the two countries still did not fight each other directly. Instead, they argued, threatened each other, and supported different sides in conflicts around the Middle East.

For example, Iran supported groups that were enemies of Israel. Israel, on the other hand, tried to stop these groups and limit Iran’s influence in the region. Because the two countries were competing and attacking each other indirectly, experts often call this a “shadow war.” It means the conflict was happening mostly behind the scenes instead of in a direct battle between the two countries.

Another big reason for the tension is Iran’s nuclear program. Nuclear technology can be used to create electricity and energy. But the same technology can also be used to build extremely powerful weapons called nuclear weapons. Israel worries that if Iran develops nuclear weapons, it could be very dangerous for Israel and for other countries in the region. Nuclear weapons are extremely powerful bombs that use nuclear energy and can destroy an entire city in one explosion. Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, but many countries remain concerned.

Because of this fear and distrust, the relationship between Israel and Iran slowly became worse over the years. In recent years, the conflict started becoming more direct. Military strikes and attacks began happening between the two sides. What used to be a hidden rivalry slowly turned into open fighting. This is why many people now say the Israel–Iran conflict has grown into a real war.

Flames and smoke rising after Israeli airstrikes on Dahiyeh, a southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, on Monday. Photograph: Hassan Ammar/AP

In the next part, we will look at another important question. Why did the United States decide to support Israel and become involved in the conflict too?