Guest writer
The ongoing confrontations between Israel and Iran is the latest addition to the crisis that underpins the relationship between the two Countries.
What are the issues driving the conflict and deepening the animosity between the two regional foes?
For Israel, Iran’s nuclear program is an existential threat. The Jewish State believes that a nuclear-armed Iran would pose a significant danger to its security and stability. Iran’s nuclear ambitions and refusal to scale back its programme disturb Israel.
The competition by both countries for regional supremacy or superiority in the Middle East is another reason for misunderstanding
Israel has consistently accused Iran of financing and supporting militant
groups like Hezbollah and Hamas, which have clashed with the Jewish State several times. Israel sees Iran’s regional ambitions as a threat to its own security and stability.
Another factor is that the two countries are ideologically incompatible. Iran’s revolutionary government, based on Shia Islamic principles, and Israel’s democratic government have led to deep-seated mistrust and hostility.
On its part, Iran is wary of Israel’s military strength and its perceived threat to the Islamic Republic.
Previous Confrontations
On April 1, 2024 Israel bombed an Iranian consulate complex in Damascus, Syria, killing multiple senior Iranian officials. This incident sparked a series of direct confrontations between the two countries.
Iran retaliated on April 13 by launching hundreds of drones and missiles directly at Israel for the alleged Israeli strike on its consular building.
Israel responded by conducting a limited retaliatory strike near Isfahan, Iran, targeting an assairbase.
Citing assassination of Hezebolah Hamas and IRGC leaders as justification, Iran launched around 200 ballistic missiles towards Israel in two waves on October 1 2024
Present crisis
The conflict which has escalated into the ongoing war started on June 13, 2025 when Israel launched a large-scale aerial assault operation, codenamed “Operation Rising Lion,” targeting Iranian military targets, nuclear facilities, and top military leaders.
Iran retaliated with hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones aimed at Israeli cities.
These incidents highlight the escalating tensions and direct confrontations between Israel and Iran, with significant implications for regional stability and global security.
Diplomatic option
The global Community is persuaded more by conversation on how to achieve de-escalation and easing of tensions, than dwelling on the strength of the combatants.
The conflict has been escalating, with both sides engaging in a series of attacks and counter-attacks with varying
destructions and deaths of innocent civilians on both sides.
The situation is complex, with multiple factors at play, including geopolitical alliances, military capabilities, and diplomatic efforts.
One key aspect of this conflict is the significant distance between the two Countries, with approximately 1,700 kilometers separating them. This has led to a war that is largely being fought through sophisticated military technologies, such as drones, missiles, and cyber attacks, rather than traditional ground troops that may have been more conscious of civilian population.
The involvement of United States adds another layer of complexity to the situation. While Israel’s alliance with the US is well-established, Iran’s potential alliances with China, Russia and Turkey and willingness of these countries to get involved, are less predictable, making it challenging to forecast the outcome of the conflict.
As the conflict continues to escalate, it is imperative to explore political and diplomatic options to prevent further destruction. The value of diplomacy cannot be overstated, as it provides a means of communication and negotiation that can help to de-escalate tensions and find a peaceful resolution.
The stakes are high, and the consequences of further escalation are dire, making it imperative that we prioritize diplomacy and work towards a peaceful resolution of the war.
In the meantime, the federal government of Nigeria has directed Nigerians living in Israel and Iran to evacuate.
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