Iran-Israel Conflict: The Key Players and Their Motives

Here's everything you need to know about the key players in the Middle East war - and why they're so important. Experts assess the roles that various actors may seek to play during and after conflict , including Hezbollah, the Houthis, Iraqi militias, Palestinian factions, and international powers such as China, Russia, and the EU. Tensions between two Middle Eastern heavyweights have erupted into a full-fledged Israel ‑ Iran war 2025. What’s happening now? In the latest twist, Israel ’s Operation Rising Lion unleashed a devastating wave of airstrikes on Iran ’s military and nuclear infrastructure—including the hardened Natanz enrichment complex—on June 13, 2025. Iran responded in force with missile and drone strikes on Israel . Now, key questions dominate global foreign policy: how close is Iran to having nuclear weaponry of its own? This in-depth article dissects the Iran–Israel conflict through the lenses of nuclear escalation, proxy warfare, and regional military operations. Drawing from verified intelligence and primary sources, it provides a comprehensive, fact-based breakdown of how both nations are shaping the strategic balance of power in the Middle East. While some high-profile leaders like Hamas politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh and top Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr have already been killed, there are other key players and actors who have stepped in as a regional war looms large. The Israeli attack on Iran 's nuclear program and military assets and Iran 's responding missile strikes represent a significant escalation in the long-standing tensions between the two nations. RAND experts provide insights into the strategic, diplomatic, and economic dimensions of this unfolding crisis. Iran has retaliated by launching hundreds of drones and missiles against Israel, some of which have penetrated Israel’s vaunted aerial defence system, killing two dozen people so far.