Israel’s attack on Iran on Friday night comes three weeks after Tehran launched 180 ballistic missiles at Israel on October 1.

Israel had been expected to retaliate following the attack by Iran over the killings of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut.

Following the attack Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to retaliate against Iran, which he said “made a big mistake tonight and it will pay for it”.

Tehran has also been funding, training and arming proxies including Hamas in Gaza, Hesbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen to attack Israel.

What was Iran’s previous attack on Israel?

Iran previously attacked Israel in April when it sent more than 300 drones and missiles in a barrage that was largely shot down by Israel and its allies.

Iran fired 170 drones, more than 30 cruise missiles and more than 120 ballistic missiles but most were intercepted with the help of the US and the UK.

What happens next?

How the growing conflict in the Middle East escalates next will likely depend on how Iran responds.

Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, previously described its attack on Israel as self-defence but said that it would have a “crushing response” if any other country entered an operation with Israel against Iran.