Israel and Iran's long-simmering tensions erupted into missile attacks last Friday, when Israel launched a suprise attack against military and nuclear targets in Iran and wiped out the top echelon of Iran's military command.

Iran’s allies, the self-described “Axis of Resistance,” have been severely hurt by ongoing Israeli attacks since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, particularly Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Iran has long used those groups as both an asymmetrical way to attack Israel and as a shield against a direct assault.

Iran retaliated late Friday against Israel's attack on Iranian nuclear and military sites, raising concerns about an all-out war between the countries.