Israel's blistering attack with warplanes and drones against Iran’s nuclear and military structure has sparking an open conflict between the two long-time foes that threatens to escalate.

Under the Islamic Republic that took power in 1979, enmity toward Israel has been a core ideological tenet of Iranian foreign policy and a key driver in its regional policy. Over decades, their rivalry played out mainly through indirect actions by Iran and by covert operations from Israel.