• Dr Nishant A.Irudayadason
  Professor of Philosophy and Ethics,
  Jnana-Deepa Institute of
  Philosophy & Theology, Pune.

The deep-seated animosity between Iran and Israel has become a significant source of instability in the Middle East. The recent attack on Iran’s consulate in Damascus, which resulted in the death of several high-ranking military officials, has escalated tensions between the two nations. Iran has vowed to retaliate, leading to heightened anxiety in Israel, where citizens are rushing to stock up on essentials.
The conflict between Iran and Israel is not new; it has been a bloody rivalry for years, with its intensity varying according to geopolitical circumstances. The roots of this enmity can be traced back to the Islamic Revolution of 1979 in Iran, which marked the beginning of Iran’s rejection of Israel. Before the revolution, relations between the two countries were relatively cordial, with Iran being the second Islamic country to recognise the State of Israel in 1948 after Egypt. However, the revolution led by Ayatollah Khomeini transformed Iran into an Islamic Republic, positioning itself as a defender of the oppressed and rejecting “American imperialism” and its ally, Israel. The new regime broke off relations with Israel, ceased recognising Israeli passports, and seized the Israeli embassy in Tehran, handing it over to the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).
The hostility towards Israel became a cornerstone of the new Iranian regime, with many of its leaders having trained and participated in guerrilla actions with Palestinians in places like Lebanon. The Iranian regime also sought to project itself as a pan-Islamic power, adopting the Palestinian cause against Israel, which Arab-Muslim countries had largely abandoned. As a result, anti-Israeli demonstrations became commonplace in Tehran, and the Iranian regime began to support organisations aligned with its interests, such as Hezbollah, which has been labelled a terrorist organisation by the United States and the European Union. This network of organisations has carried out armed actions favourable to Tehran’s interests, extending Iran’s axis of resistance to Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.
Israel, on the other hand, has not remained passive and has exchanged attacks and other hostile actions with Iran and its allies, often in third countries where it finances and supports armed groups fighting against pro-Iranian forces. The struggle between Iran and Israel has been dubbed a “shadow war,” with both nations attacking each other without official acknowledgement of involvement in many cases.
The ongoing civil war in Syria since 2011 has added another layer of confrontation. Western intelligence services report that Iran has sent money, weapons, and trainers to support President Bashar al-Assad’s forces against insurgents seeking to overthrow him. This has alarmed Israel, which views neighbouring Syria as a primary route for Iranian arms and equipment to reach Hezbollah in Lebanon. The “shadow war” reached the seas in 2021 when Israel accused Iran of attacks on Israeli ships in the Gulf of Oman, and Iran, in turn, accused Israel of attacking its ships in the Red Sea.
The recent attacks by the Palestinian militia Hamas against Israel and the massive military offensive launched by the Israeli army in Gaza in response have raised concerns worldwide about a potential chain reaction in the region and an open and direct confrontation between Iranians and Israelis. Escalations at the border with Lebanon and clashes with Palestinian protesters in the occupied West Bank have increased in recent months. Despite the attack on its diplomatic headquarters in Damascus, which has outraged Tehran, both Iran and Israel have so far avoided large-scale hostilities and fighting. However, the situation remains volatile, with many in Israel convinced that a decisive Iranian response is imminent.
It is an irony that neither side desires a large-scale conflict at present. Israel is already engaged in a devastating six-month war with Hamas in Gaza, which has damaged its international reputation and left it more isolated than ever. Iran, facing economic problems and internal legitimacy crises, is also not in a position to confront a military power like Israel, which would likely receive support from the United States in the event of an open war. Nevertheless, the attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus has set the stage for a potentially decisive response from Iran, with speculation about the nature of this retaliation ranging from drone bombings to cyber-attacks or naval strikes. The conditions that have deterred both Israelis and Iranians from engaging in a violent spiral have not changed, but the anticipation of an Iranian coup remains high in Israel.