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Israel’s history of preemptive strikes

For decades, Israel has tested the limits of international law by bombing its enemies when it says it feels threatened.

Israel’s history of preemptive strikes

History Illustrated is a series of perspectives that puts news events and current affairs into historical context, using graphics generated with artificial intelligence.

Israel’s history of preemptive strikes — Israel started attacking Iran on June 13, 2025, with what it called “preemptive” strikes on nuclear facilities, military sites and infrastructure. It also assassinated scientists and military commanders. And soon enough, the US joined in. But in the war of words that followed, questions arise over what is preemptive, and what is simply illegal.

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Israel’s history of preemptive strikes — Israel’s quintessential “preemptive” strike occurred in 1967. To legally justify the Six Day War, Israel accused Egypt of mobilising its army against it. Egypt, as well as Syria, Jordan and Iraq, were militarily humbled.

Israel’s history of preemptive strikes — On June 7, 1981, Israel launched Operation Opera, a surprise air strike by eight F-16s that destroyed Iraq’s Osirak nuclear reactor near Baghdad. Again billed as preemptive, Israel called it a way to keep Saddam Hussein from acquiring nuclear arms.

Israel’s history of preemptive strikes — Israel’s bombing of a suspected nuclear reactor in Deir Az Zor, Syria, in September 2007, followed a similar pattern: secrecy, jets and a destroyed facility – in this case, one that Syria denied was a nuclear plant.

Israel’s history of preemptive strikes — Since about 2008, Israel has targeted Syria with hundreds of air strikes against what it says were often Iranian and Hezbollah assets – claims that are often difficult to corroborate.

Israel’s history of preemptive strikes — Israel has also used cyberattacks. In 2010, the Stuxnet worm infected Iran’s Natanz facility and destroyed centrifuges for refining nuclear fuel. A research paper commissioned by NATO called the attack “an act of force” and likely illegal.

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Israel’s history of preemptive strikes — In November 2020, Israel assassinated the Iranian nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, using an AI-assisted, remote-controlled machine gun. The International Bar Association called the extrajudicial killing illegal under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Israel’s history of preemptive strikes — The next year, a major explosion damaged the Natanz facility, caused by an unconfirmed Israeli cyberattack. Which brings us to today.

Israel’s history of preemptive strikes — On June 22, 2025, the US weighed in with bombing runs on three Iranian nuclear facilities, despite no evidence of Iran pursuing a nuclear weapon. While Israel and the US see the latest strikes on Iran as self-defence and preemptive, many experts argue they violate international laws and the UN Charter.