Israel and Iran have been enemies for decades — but this is their most sustained direct fighting ever. Here’s how a shadow war erupted into an overt conflict.

Qatar and Oman are considered the Gulf states with the closest ties to Iran, but the Gulf’s powerhouses — the UAE and Saudi — have a fraught relationship with Tehran. They have long criticised the Islamic republic as a destabilising force and initially backed Trump’s so-called “maximum pressure” sanctions campaign.