West Asia war: Israel, Iran in dangerous game of chicken

Israel struck military targets from air in provinces of Tehran, Khuzestan & Ilam

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GEELONG: Israel's strike on military targets in Iran over the weekend is becoming a more routine occurrence in the decades-long rivalry between the two states.

Israel has conducted low-level or "unofficial" operations in Iran in the past, but since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on southern Israel and subsequent Israeli war in Gaza, tensions between Iran and Israel have spilled over into direct military confrontation for the first time.

While the consequences of this particular strike are not yet clear, it does show that the violence in the Middle East is not winding down any time soon.

This is also a clear example of how easily one conflict - in this case, Gaza - can expand into new conflicts with unintended consequences.

But there are other dimensions at play beyond Gaza and the Palestinians. Relations between Israel and post-revolutionary Iran have never been good.