The strikes are seen as retaliation from Israel, which, over the weekend, had been the target of hundreds of drones and missiles that Iran launched at it. The US, UK and France helped Israel shoot the drones and missiles down before hitting Israel.
Iran is a regional power that funds and trains militants to routinely attack Israeli targets.
The Iranian attack was itself in response to an April 1 Israeli attack on an Iranian embassy in Syria, where two senior members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were killed. Israel has not claimed the strike.
Western and European powers have urged Israel to avoid more direct military action against Iran, for fear that the conflict spirals out of control through the region.
How is this related to the conflict in Gaza?
The tit-for-tat escalations come as Israel continued its controversial operation to attack Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that following its October 7 attacks staged from Gaza into Israel.
Hamas killed 1200 of Israelis and kidnapped more than 250 Israeli citizens. While Hamas runs the administration of the Gaza Strip, it’s also a considered a terror group by Western governments, including Australia’s.
Since October 7, Iran, through its proxy allies in the region, have staged limited attacks on Israeli targets.
How is the US involved?
The US is a long-time security backer of Israel providing military aid, and coordinating in intelligence in the region. The conduct of Israel’s war on Hamas by PM Benjamin Netanyahu has become a source of disagreement between Israel and the US.
The US is walking a fine line of upholding its support while further trying to dial down tensions between Israel and the Palestinians, and the wider Muslim and Arab world.
US President Joe Biden calls US support for Israel “ironclad”. However, the US doesn’t want to be further drawn into a regional conflict that is already costing the White House political capital during an election year.
Complicating the situation is the fact Iran has long-term aspirations to build a nuclear weapon, adding another dimension of insecurity into the situation.
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