Jerusalem : Israel launched retaliatory missile strikes on military targets in western and central Iran on Monday, a day after Iran fired missiles toward Israeli territory in its first direct attack since an April ceasefire. The exchange marks the most serious escalation between the two rivals in nearly two months and has renewed fears of a wider regional conflict.
The Israeli military said its forces targeted military installations inside Iran in response to the Iranian missile attack. Iranian state media reported explosions in several cities, including Tehran, Isfahan, Tabriz, Karaj and Kermanshah. A U.S. defence official said Washington was not involved in the operation.
The latest confrontation began after Iran launched missiles at Israel following Israeli airstrikes in Beirut’s southern suburbs, an area considered a stronghold of Hezbollah. Tehran accused Israel of crossing “all red lines” and justified the missile attack as retaliation. Israeli air defence systems intercepted most, if not all, of the incoming missiles, and no major casualties were immediately reported.
The missile launch was Iran’s first direct strike on Israel since a ceasefire took effect in April after weeks of intense fighting across the region. The truce had largely halted direct hostilities between Israel and Iran, although tensions remained high amid continued clashes involving Hezbollah and Israeli forces in Lebanon.
International concern grew rapidly following the exchange. U.S. President Donald Trump urged restraint and said ongoing diplomatic efforts with Tehran should not be derailed by the latest violence. Several countries also reviewed regional airspace security as fears mounted that the confrontation could spread beyond Israel, Iran and Lebanon.
With both sides signalling readiness to respond to further attacks, the future of the already fragile ceasefire now appears uncertain. Diplomats and regional leaders are calling for immediate de-escalation to prevent the conflict from widening into a broader Middle East crisis.
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