On 1 April, Israel launched an attack on what Iran says was the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria. The assault killed two Iranian generals among others and Iran vowed to retaliate. On Saturday night it took action, sending hundreds of drones and rockets into Israel. It was the first time Iran had attacked Israeli territory.
The Guardian’s senior foreign correspondent, Emma Graham-Harrison, was in Jerusalem. She explains why, despite Israel emerging remarkably unscathed – with just one young girl seriously injured – the situation could spiral out of control. The latest attack is a frightening escalation of the hostile relationship between the two countries, who have previously fought a “shadow war” through proxies and in countries such as Syria or Iraq.
The attack has led to Israel’s allies, who were growing increasingly critical of its war in Gaza, rallying to support it. But they are also urging restraint – to stop a further escalation that could tip the whole region into war. Will Israel heed their warnings?
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