The direct military strike on Tuesday came after senior military commanders of the Revolutionary Guards Corps convinced the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, that it was the only course of action if Iran wanted to appear strong, according to three Iranian officials.

Iran's distinct advantage lies in its much larger missile system compared to Israel and other Gulf countries, as well as its mastery of drone technology.

What are Israel and Iran’s attack and defence capabilities? - The two bitter regional enemies are on the brink of all-out war