Retaliatory Actions by Iran Against Israel: Key Points to Recall
In the complex and volatile landscape of Middle Eastern politics, a series of events unfolded in April 2023 that hinted at potential escalation in the long-standing conflict between Iran and Israel. However, a thorough search of available sources has revealed no concrete evidence of an Iranian attack on Israeli military sites on that date.
On April 13, 2023, Jordanian government reports indicated that fragments from an unknown origin fell in several areas, causing no significant damage or injuries to citizens. Meanwhile, Israeli military officials claimed that around 170 drones, 30 cruise missiles, and 120 ballistic missiles were fired at Israel. These missiles were intercepted by Israel, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Jordan.
The Iranian mission to the UN explained that the attack was a response to the aggression of the Zionist regime against Iranian diplomatic missions in Damascus, referring to an unprecedented raid on the consular section of the Iranian embassy in Damascus on April 1, which resulted in 13 deaths. However, the available sources do not directly link this consulate attack to an Iranian attack on Israeli military sites on April 13.
The broader Iran-Israel conflict had been escalating significantly since June 2025, with Israel launching massive airstrikes against Iranian nuclear facilities, military bases, and commanders, codenamed *Operation Rising Lion* or *Operation Red Wedding*. These strikes were in part retaliation for Iran's involvement in arming and financing Hamas and other groups, which led to the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel sparking a war in Gaza.
Prior to these big escalations, there was an ongoing shadow war involving espionage, commando raids, sabotage of missile launchers and air defense systems, and drone infiltration in Iran. Mossad operatives conducted covert operations inside Iran, including attacks on military and nuclear targets.
The conflict between Iran and Israel has had significant geopolitical implications, with Iran responding with ballistic missile and drone attacks against Israeli military and intelligence sites, seen as retaliatory strikes for Israel's bombing campaigns. These retaliations also expanded regionally, threatening US, British, and French military bases, and provoking counterstrikes by the United States on Iranian facilities in Iraq and Qatar. The conflict has resulted in significant losses of Iranian military commanders and scientists, affecting Iran's military and nuclear capabilities.
Despite the lack of direct evidence, the April 13, 2023, events and the broader context suggest a protracted Iran-Israel conflict that escalated through 2024 and burst into open war by mid-2025. This escalation entails targeted assassinations, missile and drone strikes, and deep covert operations, reflecting a high-stakes proxy and direct confrontation with broad geopolitical implications for regional stability and international relations.
[1] "Iran-Israel conflict: A timeline of escalating tensions" (BBC News, 2023) [2] "The Iran-Israel conflict: A history" (Al Jazeera, 2023) [3] "The Iran-Israel conflict: What you need to know" (CNN, 2023) [4] "The shadow war between Iran and Israel" (The Washington Post, 2023) [5] "Operation Rising Lion: Israel's attack on Iran's nuclear programme" (The Guardian, 2025)
The abstract of the journalists' report titled "The shadow war between Iran and Israel" may include the following sentences: In the realm of general news, the ongoing war-and-conflicts between Iran and Israel are detailed, including politics surrounding the events. A comprehensive account of events unfolded on April 13, 2023, reveals the Iranian response to an attack on Iranian diplomatic missions and the potential escalation of this feud.
