A decades-long shadow war between Israel and Iran is increasingly taking place in the open.

Early on Saturday, Israel launched a series of airstrikes on Iran, the Israeli military said. Residents of Tehran reported hearing multiple explosions in and around the Iranian capital.

The attacks renewed fears of a wider war in the Middle East as Israel’s offensive against Hamas in Gaza stretches into a second year, and as it fights a ground war against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

Here is a recent history of the conflict, which has often involved Iran’s network of allies in Lebanon, Iraq and other countries:

2019

Strikes against Iran’s allies

Israel carried out a series of attacks in Syria, Lebanon and Iraq to prevent Iran from equipping its Arab allies with precision-guided missiles, drones and other sophisticated weapons.

2021

An attack on an oil tanker

In July, an oil tanker managed by an Israeli-owned shipping firm was attacked off the coast of Oman, killing two crew members, according to the company and three Israeli officials. Two of the officials said that the attack appeared to have been carried out by Iranian drones.

A remote-controlled assassination

In November, Israel killed Iran’s top nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, with a remote-controlled machine gun. The assassination was part of its campaign to limit Iran’s nuclear capabilities through sabotage and cyberattacks.

2022

A motorcycle assassination

In May, two assassins on motorcycles shot and killed Col. Sayad Khodayee, an officer in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. Iran blamed Israel and vowed revenge.