Honestly, if you turn on the news right now, the map of the Middle East looks like a tangled web of red lines and "breaking" banners that never actually stop breaking. It's chaotic. People keep asking who did Iran attack because the answer isn't just one country or one specific date; it’s a shifting list that involves direct strikes, proxy maneuvers, and a lot of geopolitical chess.
When we talk about Iran’s military actions, we have to look at the massive escalation that defined much of 2024 and 2025. It isn't just about history anymore. It's about what happened last Tuesday, or what might happen tomorrow.
The Direct Hit: Israel and the April Escalation
For decades, the "shadow war" between Tehran and Jerusalem was just that—shadowy. They poked each other through cyberattacks or maritime sabotage. But everything changed in April 2024. This was the big one. If you’re wondering who did Iran attack directly for the first time in history from Iranian soil, the answer is Israel.
The Iranian government launched over 300 projectiles. We’re talking drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles. It was a massive barrage. Most were intercepted by the "Coalition" (the US, UK, Jordan, and Israel’s own Iron Dome and Arrow systems), but the psychological seal was broken. This wasn't a proxy group like Hezbollah doing the dirty work. This was the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) pressing the launch buttons themselves.
Why? It was a retaliatory strike after an Israeli hit on an Iranian diplomatic building in Damascus. That strike killed Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a high-ranking commander. Iran felt they couldn't just sit back. They had to show they could reach out and touch Israeli territory. It was a terrifying moment for the region. The world held its breath, waiting to see if World War III was starting on a Saturday night.
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The "Axis of Resistance" and Indirect Strikes
You can't really answer who did Iran attack without talking about the groups they fund and arm. It’s rarely a "clean" war. Iran uses what they call the Axis of Resistance.
- Hezbollah in Lebanon: They’ve been trading fire with northern Israel almost daily. Iran provides the rockets, the training, and the bankroll.
- The Houthis in Yemen: This is a wild one. They’ve been attacking international shipping in the Red Sea. They claim it’s about Gaza, but the tech they're using—the Samad drones and the ballistic missiles—is straight out of the Iranian playbook.
- Militias in Iraq and Syria: These groups have targeted US bases like Tower 22. When people ask who did Iran attack, they often mean "who did Iran’s friends attack with Iranian weapons?"
It's a strategy of plausible deniability. Tehran can say, "Hey, we didn't do it," while the drones have Iranian serial numbers. It keeps the US and its allies in a constant state of high alert without necessarily triggering a full-scale invasion of Iran itself.
Beyond Israel: The Strikes in Pakistan and Iraq
Early in 2024, things got weird. Most people focus on the Israel-Palestine conflict, but Iran actually launched missiles into Pakistan. Yes, a nuclear-armed neighbor.
This wasn't about the West. It was about Jaish al-Adl, a Sunni militant group that Iran claims operates out of Pakistani territory. They also hit what they called a "Mossad spy hub" in Erbil, Iraq. The Iraqi government was furious. They called it a violation of sovereignty. It showed that Iran is willing to strike anyone they perceive as a threat to their internal security, even if those countries aren't technically "enemies."
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The Pakistan incident was particularly tense. Pakistan actually fired back! For a few days, two major regional powers were bombing each other. Eventually, they both realized neither wanted a war and they de-escalated through some very fast-moving diplomacy. It was a stark reminder that Iran's military reach goes East just as much as it goes West.
The Logic of the "Long Game"
Experts like Dr. Vali Nasr and others who study the region often point out that Iran doesn't attack just to cause destruction. There is always a message. When they attacked those tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, the message was: "If we can't export oil, nobody can."
When they attacked the Global Hawk drone a few years back, it was to test US resolve.
They play a very dangerous game of "brinkmanship." They push right up to the edge of total war, then they step back. It's calculated. It’s messy. And for the civilians living in these target zones, it's absolutely devastating.
What Actually Happened in the Most Recent Salvos?
The most recent headlines regarding who did Iran attack often involve the 2025 escalations. We've seen a shift toward more sophisticated drone technology. The Shahed-136, often called the "moped drone" because of its noisy engine, has become a household name. It’s cheap. It’s effective. It forces the target to use a million-dollar missile to shoot down a twenty-thousand-dollar drone.
In the latest rounds of conflict, Iran has focused heavily on:
- Military installations in the Negev desert.
- Intelligence gathering centers along the border of the Golan Heights.
- Logistics hubs in Northern Israel.
How to Track These Events Without Getting Overwhelmed
Keeping up with this is exhausting. The news cycle moves so fast that a missile strike on Tuesday is forgotten by Friday.
If you want to stay informed, stop looking at TikTok "experts" and start looking at satellite imagery analysis from places like the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). They map out exactly where the impacts happened. You can see the charred earth. It’s the only way to cut through the propaganda from both sides. Tehran will claim they destroyed a top-secret base; Jerusalem will say every missile was intercepted. The truth usually lies somewhere in the middle, recorded by a satellite orbiting 300 miles up.
Actionable Steps for Staying Informed
- Check the Source: If a report says "Iran attacked [Country]," look for confirmation from that country's Ministry of Defense AND a third-party monitor like the AP or Reuters.
- Monitor the Strait of Hormuz: A lot of Iranian military "attacks" are actually maritime. If insurance rates for oil tankers spike, something happened in the water.
- Watch the Proxies: Often, an attack by a group in Iraq is a "pre-cursor" to a direct Iranian action.
- Focus on Capabilities: Instead of just asking who they hit, look at what they used. The transition from drones to hypersonic missiles (which Iran claims to have) changes how the entire world has to defend itself.
The situation remains fluid. We are in a new era where the "shadows" have disappeared, and direct conflict is the new, scary reality. Understanding the "who" is just the first step; understanding the "why" is what helps you navigate the headlines.