Although Iran maintains that its nuclear program is for peaceful energy purposes, Israel has long seen it as a threat. Israeli strikes have hit three of Iran’s nuclear facilities — Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow. Little damage appears visible in satellite imagery of Fordow.

Israel's ongoing airstrikes and intelligence operation and Iran's retaliation raised fears of all-out war between the countries and propelled the region, already on edge, into even greater upheaval.

As Iran fires masses of ballistic missiles, Israel’s vaunted air defenses are being tested like never before. Iran launched around 200 such missiles at Israel on Friday night — in retaliation for a wave of Israeli strikes that day — and 70 or so on Saturday evening,