Israel has shifted the frontline of its fight from Gaza to Iran – but why?

We have all seen and heard in recent days of grave events currently taking place in the Middle East, so let’s take a closer look at what’s happening.

The whole world is aware that there has been a war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas-controlled Palestine that has created a humanitarian crisis. That conflict suddenly changed course late last week, when Israel launched a major military campaign against Iran on Friday (AEST). Israel and Iran exchanged heavy fire on Monday and into the fifth day on Tuesday in what is the most intense confrontation between these two nations in their troubled history.

As the crow flies, these two countries are separated by Jordan and Iraq, but beyond the potential impact on those two immediate neighbours, the entire region is one of the planet’s most complex. That regional volatility* combined with the unpredictability of key Israel-ally the US under President Trump means there are fears that the conflict could continue and eventually involve more of the Middle East. But there are also hopes that a deal can be struck. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday that “Once these (Israeli) attacks come to a stop, we will naturally reciprocate*,” suggesting a truce could be reached quickly if both parties are ready to agree terms.

WHY DID ISRAEL ATTACK IRAN?
Iran has not officially been part of the war in Gaza, which began after the Hamas-led terrorist attack on Israeli civilians on October 7, 2023. But Iran has financially and politically backed several militia* and terrorist groups operating in the region, including Hamas*, which controls Palestine and its side of the Gaza Strip, and Hezbollah* in Lebanon.

But the specific reason given by Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was Iran’s atomic activity. Mr Netanyahu said that the “existential*” threat posed by Iran’s nuclear and missile programs prompted the current Israeli offensive against Iran.

Israel’s attack on Iran started the same day that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warned of Iran’s activities.

Reuters reported on June 12 that the UN nuclear watchdog’s* 35-nation Board of Governors “found Iran in breach of its non-proliferation* obligations on Thursday for the first time in almost 20 years”. Nuclear talks between Iran and the US were due to take place on Sunday but were called off.

WHAT DO WORLD LEADERS SAY?
World leaders continue to call for an end to the attacks.

China urged Iran and Israel to “immediately” take steps to reduce tensions and “prevent the region from falling into greater turmoil”.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told his Iranian counterpart in a phone call on Monday that Turkey was ready to play a “facilitating role” to end the conflict.

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he believed “there’s a consensus* for de-escalation” among Group of Seven leaders, who are currently meeting in Canada.

US President Donald Trump told reporters at the G7 summit that “Iran is not winning this war, and they should talk … immediately, before it’s too late”.

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was due to meet with President Trump on Wednesday while attending the summit in Calgary but the White House confirmed on Tuesday that the US leader would leave the G7 early due to the Israel-Iran conflict.

A spokesperson for the Australian government said that “given what is occurring in the Middle East, this is understandable”.

“As the Prime Minister said a short time ago, we are very concerned about the events in the Middle East and continue to urge all parties to prioritise dialogue and diplomacy*,” they said.

WHAT IS HAPPENING?
Israeli fighter jets and drones have struck nuclear and military sites in Iran, but they have also hit residential areas and fuel depots.

As of Tuesday, Iran’s health ministry said at least 224 people have been killed and more than 1200 wounded.

Iran has responded with barrages of missiles and drones that have hit Israeli cities and towns, killing at least 24 people and wounding an estimated 592 others.

Israel has also claimed to have killed many top military commanders and atomic scientists in Iran as part of an offensive that Israeli officials said sought to end nuclear and missile threats from the Islamic republic.

AFP journalists reported hearing massive blasts across the Iranian capital Tehran after Israel issued an evacuation order. By Tuesday lunchtime (AEST), residents were evacuating the city in huge numbers, shortly after Mr Trump posted on social media that “Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran”.

US officials insisted the US was not joining the Israeli offensive on Iran and French President Emmanuel Macron said Trump’s early departure from the G7 was positive, given the main priority was to get Israel and Iran to agree to a ceasefire deal proposed by the US.

“There is an offer that has been made, especially to have a ceasefire and to initiate broader discussions. And I think this is a very good thing,” Macron told reporters. “So now we need to see what the stakeholders will do.”

POLL

GLOSSARY

• volatility: state of rapid change, especially in a negative way
• reciprocate: behave in the same way or feel the same way as another party
• militia: a group of citizen soldiers rather than professional ones
• Hamas: a nationalist group listed by the Australian National Security as a terrorist organisation, dedicated to establishing an independent Islamic state in Palestine, including via terrorism, that controls the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian section of the Mediterranean coast
• Hezbollah: listed as a terrorist organisation by Australian National Security which has provided three decades of support to Palestinian extremist groups that are also listed as terrorist organisations in Australia under the Criminal Code
• existential: relating to existence itself and being alive
• watchdog: a person or organisation that makes sure that companies, governments and other groups are not doing anything illegal or wrong
• non-proliferation: controlling of the spread and amount of something, especially nuclear and chemical weapons
• consensus: generally accepted opinion or decision among a group of people
• diplomacy: the management of relationships between countries

EXTRA READING

What is the Israel and Palestine conflict?

Popemobile offers Gaza lifeline

Trump touts Gaza MAGA makeover

QUICK QUIZ

1. When did the Gaza War begin and why?
2. As the crow flies, which two countries separate Israel and Iran?
3. What is the meeting taking place in Canada this week?
4. Why won’t Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese be meeting US President Trump at a face-to-face meeting as planned?
5. Watch reason did Israel’s President Benjamin Netanyahu give for launching the campaign against Iran?

LISTEN TO THIS STORY

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. End to the conflict
As a child of today’s world, having to grow up among these current days of war and conflict (despite us being luckily far away from these countries), write a letter to the leaders of these nations asking for peace and an end to these attacks.

Your letter should outline the reasons why children of your generation don’t support this war and why.

Use strong and emotive language in an attempt to persuade them.

Time: allow 25 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, History, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

2. Extension
Where do the people of Iran go when they are ordered to evacuate?

What would this mean to everyday families and children living in the capital city of Tehran?

How would they be feeling about this conflict that they may have even experienced before?

Time: allow 10 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, History, Geography, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

VCOP ACTIVITY
Vocabulary recycle
There is some vivid vocabulary being used in the article, and I am not just talking about the glossary words. Go through the article and highlight the high-level language that you are impressed by in yellow.

See if you can borrow two of these wow words to reuse in your own way.

Remember vocabulary is a great way to connect with the audience, but you need to think about who your audience is so you make great word choices.

Who will the audience be in your recycled sentences?