Symbolic target The buildup to Israel's air attack on Iran and how it unfolded

Just before dawn yesterday morning the explosions of air defence systems woke Iranians across the historic city of Isfahan. Breaking news alerts that followed roused people from their sleep around the world, to worry that the region had moved a step closer to full-blown conflict.

- Emma Graham-Hatrison

There was little doubt who had launched the attack, even before any details of what happened were clear. It came just days after an unprecedented barrage of Iranian drones and missiles were aimed at Israel, whose government had vowed it would respond.

Despite that threat, few had expected such a rapid Israeli strike.

US and Israeli officials had briefed that any action would be likely to come after Passover, one of the biggest holidays in the Jewish calendar, which starts on Monday.

Israel had also been under intense pressure from its closest allies to curb any response. Leaders from Washington to Paris and London have been open about their deep concerns over the speed with which a decades-long shadow war has escalated into a risky exchange of direct strikes.

Iran's attack was retaliation for an Israeli strike on 1 April on the country's diplomatic complex in Damascus, which killed a top general and several other commanders, as well as several Iranian embassy staff. Israel gave the US, its closet ally, only lastminute notice of its plans. And while Washington cleaved firmly to Israel's defence in the face of Iranian attacks that followed, it also let Tehran know almost immediately that it had not been warned of the assassinations.

For months US diplomats had been shuttling between regional capitals in an intensive bid to prevent Israel's war in Gaza expanding to a wider conflict. Once the immediate threat from Iran had been neutralised at the weekend, it returned to that mission.