Iran attacks Israel: How we got here and what might happen next
( JTA ) — On Saturday night, Iran fired more than 200 missiles and drones at Israel. The unprecedented attack — from Iranian soil to Israeli territory — is the most direct confrontation ever between the two longtime adversaries. It threatens to spiral into a broader regional war whose consequences could also likewise be without precedent. In the meantime it has led to fear and injury — a 10-year-old was wounded — as well as surreal scenes, such as weapons fired by the Islamic Republic flying past the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa compound in Jerusalem, a Muslim holy site. Related A ‘very dangerous moment’: Reaction pours in over Iran’s attack on Israel The attack is the culmination of long-running trends and explosive recent events: It comes following a decades-long “shadow war” between Israel and Iran. It is also occurring more than six months after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, which launched the ongoing war in Gaza as well as intensifying clashes between...