Iran is often portrayed as one of the world’s most dangerous actors. But with attacks on its defenses, nuclear sites and proxy militias, Israel has exposed a compromised and weakened adversary.

Iran must understand that there will be grave consequences for any actions they take in response to this justified attack.

Now Iran is facing its gravest threat since that war, as the republic is bombarded by Israel, which boasts one of the world’s most sophisticated militaries, brimming with US equipment, and whose intelligence agencies have penetrated deep inside the republic.

"Our support for Gaza and our defense of our country against the Zionist aggression against it has continued," a Houthi source told Newsweek.

For much of the 20th century, the US and Iran maintained friendly relations. During the Cold War, Washington depended on the Shah of Iran to counter Soviet influence in the oil-rich Middle East.

D-Day has arrived for Israel and Iran. After years of covert warfare, cyberattacks, and clandestine operations, Israel has taken the initiative. In the early hours of Friday, June 13, it launched a direct assault on the heart of Iran’s nuclear program.

Advanced espionage techniques made the most of Iranian vulnerabilities, but Israel’s ultimate aims may still be out of reach.

While Iran may hate Israel, it has not (under this telling of its events) seen a full-blown war as in its interests. For that reason, it has been reserving its most devastating weapons — and those of its remaining allies, like the Houthis in Yemen or Iraqi militias — in order to avoid escalation.

The United States is the main international backer of Israel, Iran's biggest regional foe. It is also a close ally of Sunni Gulf monarchies which for years pursued their own rivalry with the Islamic Republic, seeing it as their main regional threat.

In a statement, Hamas praised Tehran-its key strategic ally-for standing by the Palestinian cause and backing the resistance against Israel over decades, including during the current war that began in October 2023.