Since 2017, Israel has conducted airstrikes on Syrian territory against Iranian-backed militias as well as Iranian military forces on several occasions, which formed the basis for classifying the conflict as an IAC between Israel and Iran. (See Armed Conflict(s) Overview)

However, the situation shifted with the change of the Syrian government in December 2024, following which Iranian armed forces reportedly withdrew from Syrian territory (See ‘Major events and developments’). As noted earlier, no further incidents between Israel and Iran on Syrian territory have been reported since that date. Therefore, with the withdrawal of Iranian forces from Syrian territory as of at least January 2025, and the absence of further hostilities on Syrian territory, the IAC between Israel and Iran may persist, but it has not been taking place on Syrian territory.