In a significant escalation of regional tensions, Israel launched strikes on military sites in western and central Iran early Monday morning, local time. This action followed Iran’s missile barrage on Israel, which breached the fragile ceasefire just hours before.
Despite a direct plea from U.S. President Donald Trump to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urging restraint, Israel proceeded with the strikes. According to a senior U.S. official, who spoke to the Associated Press under the condition of anonymity, Trump believed he had persuaded Netanyahu to delay any immediate response to Iran’s aggression. Nevertheless, Israel went ahead with the military action.
On Sunday, President Trump publicly advised Iran to de-escalate, stating in a Fox News interview, “What I would suggest to Iran: You’ve shot your missiles, that’s enough. Get back to the table and make a deal.” In anticipation of further hostilities, the U.S. Embassy in Israel instructed its staff and their families to seek shelter, while U.S. Central Command announced on social media that American forces throughout the Middle East remained “vigilant and ready.”
The recent surge in hostilities began with a Hezbollah drone attack targeting the Dovev Barracks in northern Israel. In response, Israel conducted airstrikes on southern Beirut, specifically in the Mreijeh area, striking a residential building. This attack resulted in two fatalities and 20 injuries, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. Despite Washington’s request for Israel to refrain from targeting Beirut, Israel proceeded with the airstrikes.
Trump’s public message to Iran on Sunday was to stand down. “What I would suggest to Iran: You’ve shot your missiles, that’s enough,” he said in a Fox News interview. “Get back to the table and make a deal.” The U.S. Embassy in Israel directed employees and their families to shelter in place shortly before the missile launches. U.S. Central Command posted on X that American forces across the Middle East were “vigilant and ready.”
Sunday’s Collapse, a Ceasefire on Life Support
Sunday’s collapse began with a Hezbollah drone attack on Dovev Barracks in northern Israel. Israel responded with airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, hitting a residential building in the Mreijeh area that killed two people and wounded 20, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. Washington had asked Israel not to strike Beirut. Israel did it anyway.
Iran’s response came in two waves. The IDF reported sirens going off across northern Israel as four missiles were launched in the first wave. Iranian state media then reported a second wave, which Israeli officials confirmed. The IDF said all missiles were intercepted. No injuries were reported.
READ MORE: Iran Fires Missiles at Israel for First Time Since April Ceasefire
Iran’s military said Israel had “crossed all red lines” and warned that “if it expands its attacks in that area, or responds to Iran’s action, it will face more forceful blows, and devastating attacks will be launched” against Israel and its supporters. The IDF, for its part, said it was already preparing for “a variety of defensive and offensive scenarios” before the Iranian launch.
By early Monday, Israel had answered that warning with strikes inside Iran.
Where the Broader Deal Stands
A preliminary memorandum of understanding had reportedly been reached in late May to extend the ceasefire 60 days and open formal permanent peace negotiations, covering the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions relief, enriched uranium limits, and a long-term framework. It still required Trump’s final approval and had not been signed.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Sunday that any agreement with the U.S. must “fully safeguard” Iran’s national interests and that Tehran “does not wait for the green light of any country.” Hezbollah rejected the renewed Lebanon-Israel truce reached on June 4 in U.S.-hosted talks, with its leader saying the group had “given no commitment to anyone.”
Iran had warned before Sunday that an Israeli attack on Beirut would renew full-scale war across the Middle East, even as Pakistan and other mediators were trying to restart talks between Tehran and Washington. Israel struck Beirut. Iran fired on Israel. Israel struck Iran.
Trump had previously said that if Iran kills American troops, that would be “a good reason” to restart the war. No American casualties have been reported. But with Israel now having struck inside Iran over a direct presidential request to stand down, the distance between this moment and an open resumption of the war has narrowed considerably.
Editor’s Note: Thanks to President Trump and his administration’s bold leadership, we are respected on the world stage, and our enemies are being put on notice.