Aligned Nations · The wars

The Iran war: Iran, Israel, Palestine, the United States and Yemen

⚔ The aggressor

Israel and the United States against Iran; Israel in Palestine as the occupying power; in Yemen, the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition as occupiers

  • Identified by: First strike Where no land is occupied and no authority overthrown, whoever attacked first is the aggressor; fighting is permitted only against those who fight you. Qur'an 2:190
  • Identified by: Occupation Whoever holds another people's land by force, or drives them from their homes, is the aggressor — always, even when the other side fired first. Qur'an 22:39–40, 2:191

Israel has occupied the West Bank and Gaza since 1967 and blockaded Gaza since 2007; the ICJ held in July 2024 that the occupation is unlawful and must end. The Gaza war was opened by Hamas's attack of 7 October 2023, itself a crime against civilians. Israel struck Iran first on 13 June 2025, during US–Iran nuclear talks and without a UN mandate, and the US bombed its nuclear sites on 22 June; on 28 February 2026 the two launched a joint war that killed Iran's Supreme Leader. Yemen is the war's southern front, and an occupying force is the aggressor there: the Houthis have held the capital by force since 2014, and the Saudi-led coalition keeps foreign troops in the east, south and islands. Saudi Arabia ended the Yemen truce on 13 July 2026 by striking Sanaa airport to stop an Iranian aircraft; the Houthis answered with a blockade of Saudi Arabia and missiles on its airports.

Backed by

  • The United States → IsraelAt least $21.7 billion in military aid since October 2023 (Brown University, Costs of War), on top of $3.8 billion a year, its veto of Security Council ceasefire resolutions on Gaza, and joint strikes on Iran.
  • Germany → IsraelIsrael's second arms supplier — about 30% of its major arms imports in 2019–23 (SIPRI).
  • Iran → HamasMoney, weapons and training for Hamas and Islamic Jihad over many years, by Iran's own leaders' account.
  • Iran → The HouthisUN experts have traced Houthi missiles, drones and components to Iran; Iran denies arming them directly.
  • The United Arab Emirates → The southern separatists (STC)Armed, paid and directed the Southern Transitional Council's forces until Saudi Arabia broke them up in 2025–26.
  • The United States and the United Kingdom → Saudi ArabiaThe coalition's warplanes and bombs, and until 2018 US mid-air refuelling.

Their case: Israel says the 7 October attack made it the defender in Gaza, acting in self-defence against Hamas. Israel and the US call their strikes on Iran pre-emptive, to stop Iran building a nuclear weapon — the IAEA had not found that Iran was building one. The Houthis call their 2014 takeover a revolution and the coalition the aggressor since 2015; Saudi Arabia says it is in Yemen at its recognised government's invitation.

Timeline

  1. Israel occupies the West Bank and Gaza.
  2. Israel blockades Gaza.
  3. The Houthis (Ansar Allah) seize Yemen's capital, Sanaa.
  4. A Saudi-led coalition intervenes in Yemen.
  5. A UN truce in Yemen begins four years of relative calm.
  6. A Hamas-led attack on southern Israel kills about 1,200 people and takes some 250 hostages; Israel's offensive on Gaza begins.
  7. The ICJ holds the occupation of Palestine unlawful and orders it to end.
  8. The ICC issues arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant.
  9. Israel strikes Iran's nuclear and military sites during US–Iran nuclear talks, without a UN mandate.
  10. The US bombs Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.
  11. A ceasefire ends the twelve-day war.
  12. Famine is formally declared in Gaza.
  13. A UN Commission of Inquiry finds that Israel committed genocide in Gaza.
  14. A Gaza ceasefire brings hostage and prisoner exchanges; Israel keeps about two-thirds of the Strip.
  15. The US and Israel launch a joint war, killing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei; Iran strikes Israel and Gulf states hosting US forces.
  16. A Pakistan-mediated truce; Iran agrees to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
  17. The truce collapses.
  18. Saudi Arabia strikes Sanaa airport to stop an Iranian aircraft, ending Yemen's truce.
  19. The Houthis declare a naval 'blockade for blockade' on Saudi Arabia.
  20. South Africa files a new submission in its ICJ genocide case against Israel.
  21. The Houthis take Mokha and Perim Island on the Red Sea coast.
  22. A UN-backed mission finds reasonable grounds of a US war crime in the Minab school strike, and crimes against humanity in Iran's crackdown on protesters.
  23. Yemen's government launches 'Operation Yemen Dawn' with coalition air power.
  24. Houthi missiles on Riyadh and Abha airports kill three Saudis and injure 36.
  25. The US says it will not strike Iran again before the 3 November midterms.
  26. Tanker attacks in Hormuz reach a wartime high.
  27. The Gaza ceasefire marks one year; more than 100 NGOs say it exists in name only.

Motives

  • IsraelTo end Iran's nuclear and missile programmes, cut off the patron of Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis, and topple or cripple the Islamic Republic — Netanyahu has openly called for regime change. In Gaza, to destroy Hamas, bring back the hostages and keep security control of the Strip.
  • The United StatesTo stop an Iranian nuclear weapon, protect Israel, keep Gulf oil and shipping lanes under its control, and force a new government or a capitulation through 'maximum pressure', war and a blockade of Iran's ports.
  • IranThe survival of the Islamic Republic; to deter further attack by striking back; to use the Strait of Hormuz as leverage to lift the blockade and sanctions; and to keep its 'axis of resistance' alive in support of the Palestinians.
  • Hamas and Palestinian armed groupsTo end Israel's occupation and the blockade of Gaza, free Palestinian prisoners, and keep the Palestinian cause before the world.
  • The Houthis (Ansar Allah)To hold Sanaa and be recognised as Yemen's government; to lift what they call the Saudi 'siege' — the closed airport, ports and unpaid salaries; and to stand with Iran and Gaza through the Red Sea.
  • Saudi ArabiaTo keep an Iran-aligned force off its southern border and away from its oil and airports, restore Yemen's recognised government, and secure the Bab al-Mandeb and al-Mahra's route to the Arabian Sea.
  • The Yemeni government (Presidential Leadership Council)To retake the capital and reunite the country under its rule.
  • The United Arab EmiratesPorts, islands and shipping lanes: Aden, Socotra and Mayun on the route through the Bab al-Mandeb.

Iran, Palestine, the Gulf and Yemen · since June 2025 (Gaza since October 2023, Yemen since 2014) · updated 2026-10-12

Deaths: More than 74,000 Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023 (Gaza Health Ministry; a Max Planck study puts it at 100,000–126,000) and about 2,000 Israelis; about 4,500 in the war on Iran (3,468 in Iran in 2026 by the Iranian Martyrs Foundation, over 1,000 in June 2025, dozens in Israel), and about 150,000 in Yemen's fighting since 2014 — 377,000 counting hunger and disease (UNDP, to end 2021)

One war on several fronts: Israel's war on Gaza since October 2023, under a ceasefire aid groups say exists in name only; the US and Israel against Iran since June 2025; and Yemen's war — renewed in July 2026 between the Iran-backed Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition — fought from Gaza to the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.

🇾🇪 Yemen28%🇮🇷 Iran28%🇸🇦 Saudi Arabiaaggressor23%🇺🇸 United Statesaggressor8%🇮🇱 Israelaggressor0%

Summary

The war began on 7 October 2023, when a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel killed about 1,200 people and took some 250 hostages. Israel's offensive on Gaza since then has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians by the Gaza Health Ministry's count — almost 30% of them children — and independent studies put the true toll higher. Famine was formally declared in August 2025, a UN Commission of Inquiry found in September 2025 that Israel committed genocide, and the ICC has issued arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant.

The ceasefire of 10 October 2025 brought hostage and prisoner exchanges but not peace: Israel holds roughly two-thirds of the Strip, more than 1,400 Palestinians have been killed since the truce began, and the second phase — disarmament, a stabilisation force and reconstruction — has stalled. In the West Bank, which the ICJ held in 2024 to be unlawfully occupied, the UN records settler attacks, displacement and annexation accelerating with state involvement.

Israel struck Iran's nuclear and military sites on 13 June 2025, in the middle of US–Iran nuclear talks and without a UN mandate; the US bombed Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan on 22 June before a ceasefire on the 24th. On 28 February 2026 the US and Israel launched a far larger joint war, assassinating Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran answered with missile and drone barrages on Israel and on Gulf states hosting US forces.

Iran's Health Ministry counts at least 2,362 civilians killed. A UN-backed fact-finding mission found in September 2026 reasonable grounds to believe US forces committed a war crime in striking a girls' school in Minab, killing about 170 — and, separately, that Iran's authorities committed crimes against humanity in crushing protests at home. Iran has attacked about 100 merchant ships, killing at least 24 sailors.

The Houthis (Ansar Allah) seized Sanaa in 2014 and a Saudi-led coalition intervened in 2015. A UN truce in 2022 brought four years of relative calm. It broke on 13 July 2026, when Saudi Arabia struck Sanaa airport's runway to stop an Iranian aircraft carrying a Houthi delegation; on 20 July the Houthis declared a naval 'blockade for blockade' on Saudi Arabia, hit Saudi tankers and refineries, and in September took Mokha and Perim Island on the Red Sea coast.

On 4 October 2026 the government of the Presidential Leadership Council launched 'Operation Yemen Dawn' with coalition air power, claiming Bab al-Mandeb, Dhubab and Mokha — claims Reuters could not verify. Houthi missiles on Riyadh and Abha airports killed three Saudis and injured 36 on 6–8 October. The WHO counts more than 5,000 casualties, including 959 deaths, since 6 August, about 200,000 newly displaced and cholera spreading; the UN envoy says Yemen has returned to full-scale war.

Where it stands: In Palestine: The ceasefire marked one year on 10 October 2026 but is largely nominal: daily Israeli strikes at reduced scale, no peacekeepers, no reconstruction, and 1.4 million people facing crisis-level hunger. South Africa's ICJ genocide case continues, with a merits ruling years away. Iran: A Pakistan-mediated truce of 7 April 2026 collapsed in early July. The US blockades Iran's ports and says it will not strike again before the 3 November midterms; tanker attacks in Hormuz hit a wartime high on 9 October. Oman, Egypt, Qatar and Pakistan are mediating. In Yemen: Full-scale war since summer 2026, with the government offensive on the Red Sea coast and Houthi strikes on Saudi civilian airports continuing in October. Three in four families in parts of Yemen are going hungry (WFP).

The parties

  • Iran

    28%

    Attacked twice during talks and defending its land, but its strikes on cities and neutral shipping, and its crushing of its own people, fall short.

    • Struck first in neither war: attacked on 13 June 2025 and 28 February 2026.
    • Missile and drone barrages on Israeli cities and on Gulf states hosting US bases.
    • About 100 commercial vessels attacked in and around Hormuz, at least 24 sailors killed (IMO).
    • Accepted the April 2026 truce and has offered a Lebanon ceasefire; UN mission found crimes against humanity in the crackdown on protesters.

    🇮🇷 Iran in the nations ranking28%

  • Yemeni government (Presidential Leadership Council)

    28%

    The recognised government fighting to restore its authority — a defensible cause — though its own war depends on foreign air power.

    • Asked for the July 2026 Saudi strike on Sanaa airport that ended the truce.
    • Launched Operation Yemen Dawn on 4 October 2026 with coalition support.

    🇾🇪 Yemen in the nations ranking28%

  • Saudi-led coalition

    23%

    Its 2015 war brought blockade and famine; it ended the 2022 truce by bombing Sanaa's airport.

    • Struck Sanaa airport on 13 July 2026, ending four years of truce.
    • Claims 100 jets and 324 'high-value' Houthi targets hit on 4–5 October; Houthi health officials report civilian deaths.

    🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia in the nations ranking23%

  • United States

    8%

    Joined and then led a war of choice, with a school strike the UN mission calls a likely war crime and a blockade on a nation's trade.

    • Bombed Iran's nuclear sites in June 2025 and launched the February 2026 war with Israel.
    • Minab girls' school strike, about 170 killed — 'reasonable grounds' of a war crime (UN-backed mission, 17 September 2026).
    • Blockade of Iranian ports; accepted the April truce and says talks are 'productive'.

    🇺🇸 United States in the nations ranking8%

  • Israel

    0%

    The occupying power in Palestine, with a war on Gaza the UN Commission of Inquiry calls genocide, and launched both wars on Iran by surprise, during negotiations and with no mandate — aggression rather than defence.

    • More than 74,000 Palestinians killed by October 2026 (Gaza Health Ministry), 21,976 of them children; a Max Planck study estimates 100,000–126,000 violent deaths.
    • Famine declared by the IPC in August 2025 after aid was blocked; aid obstruction reported by UN experts after the ceasefire.
    • Three binding ICJ provisional-measures orders; South Africa has filed evidence of non-compliance. ICC arrest warrants for the prime minister and former defence minister.
    • More than 1,400 Palestinians killed since the October 2025 ceasefire; record settler violence and annexation in the West Bank (OHCHR, March 2026).
    • Opened the June 2025 war with surprise strikes while US–Iran talks were under way.
    • Joint strikes with the US from 28 February 2026, including the killing of Iran's head of state.
    • Treated the April 2026 truce as not covering Lebanon and kept striking there.

    🇮🇱 Israel in the nations ranking0%

  • Hamas and Palestinian armed groups

    A people resisting an occupation the ICJ has ruled unlawful has a cause Islam recognises, but the 7 October killing of civilians and the taking of hostages are plainly forbidden.

    • Killed about 1,200 people on 7 October 2023, most of them civilians, and took about 250 hostages — war crimes by the findings of the UN Commission of Inquiry, HRW and Amnesty.
    • Fired rockets indiscriminately at Israeli towns.
    • Accepted the October 2025 ceasefire and carried out the hostage exchanges; refuses to disarm under phase two.

    An armed group, not a nation — not scored in the ranking.

  • Houthis (Ansar Allah)

    Resisted foreign intervention, but now strikes civilian airports and shipping and blockades a neighbour.

    • Declared a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia on 20 July 2026 and struck Saudi tankers and refineries.
    • Cruise missiles on Riyadh's King Khalid and Abha airports killed three and injured 36 (6–8 October 2026).
    • Took Mokha, Perim Island and most of the Red Sea coast in September 2026.

    An armed group, not a nation — not scored in the ranking.

Articles

How each nation is scored — the twelve principles of our policy reforms
  1. Justice (adl). No one's land, life, rights or wealth taken unjustly; justice upheld for everyone, even enemies, and what was wrongly taken given back. Economic, Financial, Political and National Policy Reform
  2. Protection of life (hifz al-nafs). Life is sacred: non-combatants never targeted, war only against real aggression, and no help given to another's aggression. Political Policy Reform; the objectives of the sharia (maqasid)
  3. Prohibition of usury and speculation (riba, gharar). Public and private finance built on shared risk and real assets, not interest-bearing debt or speculative bets. Economic, Financial, Political and National Policy Reform
  4. Circulation of wealth and zakat (tadawul al-mal). Wealth must not circulate only among the rich; zakat, endowments and fair wages meet every person's basic needs. Economic, Financial, Political and National Policy Reform
  5. Trust over common resources (amana). Water, energy, minerals and public assets belong to the whole community — not privatised, monopolised or signed away for private or foreign gain. Economic and Financial Policy Reform
  6. Accountability and truthfulness (muhasaba, sidq). Rulers, security forces and firms answer to law and to the public; no coups, state capture, bribery or concealment. Economic, Political and National Policy Reform
  7. Legitimate authority by consultation (shura). Rule rests on the community's consent, given through consultation and a free pledge — not inheritance, force or foreign backing. Political and National Policy Reform
  8. Kept covenants and peacemaking (wafa bil-ahd, sulh). Treaties, contracts and rulings honoured; an offer of peace met with peace; disputes ended by reconciliation. Economic, Financial and Political Policy Reform
  9. Independence and self-reliance (izza). No foreign power or creditor in control of the nation's revenues or decisions; its own strength, industry and knowledge built. Financial and Political Policy Reform
  10. Human dignity and privacy (karama). Every person's dignity protected — citizen or migrant; no spying on private lives, no torture or humiliation. Economic, Financial, Political and National Policy Reform
  11. Religious freedom (la ikraha fi al-din). No compulsion in religion: every faith free to worship, build and keep its places of worship, dress and teach — Muslims and minorities alike — with no state persecution, bans on religious dress or forced conversion. The objectives of the sharia (maqasid): protection of religion (hifz al-din); Qur'an 2:256
  12. Implementation of the sharia (tatbiq al-sharia). The sharia a source of the nation's law — in family and personal status, finance free of riba, the courts and governance — applied with due process and its objectives (maqasid) in view, not as a slogan. Economic, Financial, Political and National Policy Reform

These are the principles the Policy Reform pages draw from the expert opinions. Each nation is marked 0–5 on each from its record as a state — its economy, government and treatment of its people, and its conduct in its wars — drawn from UN bodies, the ICJ and ICC, human-rights monitors and the reporting under each war. The twelve marks make the percentage; each war a nation started, provoked or joined against another people then takes 15 points off it, and an aggressor always ranks below every nation that started no war. The score judges a state's conduct, not its people or their faith.