If you’re trying to figure out did iran or israel attack first, you’ve probably realized that "first" is a loaded word in the Middle East. It’s a bit like asking who started a fight between two people who have been screaming at each other for forty years.
But if we’re talking about the massive, headline-grabbing fireworks of 2024—the stuff that actually brought the world to the brink of a regional war—there is a very specific timeline.
Honestly, the "shadow war" era ended on April 1, 2024. That’s the day the rules changed.
The Strike That Broke the Silence
Before April, these two stayed in the shadows. Iran used proxies like Hezbollah or Hamas. Israel used "kinetic" operations that they never quite admitted to. But on April 1, 2024, Israeli jets (though Israel usually stays quiet about these things) leveled a building in Damascus, Syria.
This wasn't just any building. It was the Iranian consulate.
Inside that building, a top-tier general named Mohammad Reza Zahedi was killed. He was a big deal in the Quds Force, the branch of Iran's military that handles overseas operations. To Iran, striking a consulate—which is technically sovereign territory—was basically like striking Tehran itself.
So, in the context of the direct, overt 2024 conflict, the Damascus strike is what most experts point to as the "first" move of this specific cycle.
Iran's "True Promise" Response
Iran didn't wait long. They promised a "slap" in return, and boy, did they swing. On the night of April 13, 2024, they launched Operation True Promise.
It was a massive swarm. Over 300 projectiles—drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles—flew from Iranian soil directly toward Israel. This was historic. It was the first time Iran had ever attacked Israel from its own territory.
Most of it was shot down. Israel’s "Iron Dome," "David’s Sling," and "Arrow" systems, along with help from the U.S., UK, and even Jordan, intercepted 99% of the incoming fire. One young girl, Amina Elhasuny, was seriously injured by shrapnel, but the military damage was light.
Wait, What About October?
The back-and-forth didn't stop in April. Things got way more intense later in the year. If you're looking at the second big wave of the "did iran or israel attack first" question, you have to look at July and September.
- July 31, 2024: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated right in the heart of Tehran. He was there for a presidential inauguration. Iran blamed Israel.
- September 2024: A massive Israeli airstrike in Beirut killed Hassan Nasrallah, the long-time leader of Hezbollah, along with a high-ranking Iranian general, Abbas Nilforoushan.
Iran felt they had to "restore deterrence." On October 1, 2024, they launched a second, even larger barrage. Nearly 200 ballistic missiles screeched toward Israel. This time, they used faster, more sophisticated missiles like the Fattah-1. Millions of Israelis spent the evening in bomb shelters.
The Long View: Who Started the "Shadow War"?
If we zoom out from 2024, the "who started it" question gets murky.
Ever since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran’s leadership has viewed Israel as an illegitimate state. They call it the "Zionist entity." For decades, Iran has funded and armed groups on Israel's borders. Israel, in response, has spent years sabotaging Iran's nuclear program through cyberattacks (like the famous Stuxnet worm) and assassinations of nuclear scientists.
Basically, they’ve been attacking each other in secret for a generation.
- Iran’s Perspective: They claim they are defending themselves and the "Resistance" against Israeli "aggression" in Gaza and Lebanon.
- Israel’s Perspective: They argue they are pre-empting an existential threat from a regime that openly calls for their destruction.
The Reality of 2025 and Beyond
By the time we hit June 2025, this tit-for-tat turned into a 12-day open war. Israel launched a massive operation on June 13, 2025, targeting Iranian nuclear and military infrastructure. Iran fired back. A ceasefire finally took hold on June 24, but the scars are deep.
Is it over? Kinda. But not really.
The "status quo" is now one of direct confrontation. The old "shadow" rules are gone. When we ask did iran or israel attack first, the answer depends on where you start the clock. If you start it on April 1, 2024, Israel swung first in Damascus. If you start it on October 7, 2023, the argument shifts toward Iran-backed groups.
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How to Stay Informed
If you’re trying to keep track of this ongoing mess, don't just look at the big explosions. Watch for these signals:
- Cyberattack reports: These often happen weeks before a physical missile launch.
- Diplomatic shifts in Jordan and Saudi Arabia: Their airspace is the "highway" for these missiles.
- IAEA reports: Whenever Iran ramps up uranium enrichment, Israel’s "trigger finger" gets itchier.
The best way to understand the next flare-up is to realize that neither side wants a total world-ending war, but neither side can afford to look weak. It's a dangerous game of "chicken" that doesn't seem to have a finish line.
Keep an eye on official military channels like the IDF or Iran's IRNA for the fastest updates, but always cross-reference them with neutral monitors like ACLED to get the full picture of what actually happened.
Actionable Insight:
To get the most accurate, real-time picture of current escalations, follow the Conflict Mapping projects at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). They provide daily, granular updates that bypass the political spin often found in state-controlled media.