Conflict in the Middle East erupted again when Iran fired missiles at Israel, the first such escalation since a fragile ceasefire came into force on April 8. Several bright streaks of light were seen across the night sky as the missiles fell to the ground.
Sirens sounded in several parts of Israel, prompting millions of people to seek shelter. The Israeli army said that it intercepted the missiles, despite hearing several explosions in the north of the country.
Within an hour, the army informed residents that they could leave the reinforced areas. Israel condemned the attack and expressed its readiness to respond. “Iran made a grave mistake” Israeli army spokesman Brigadier General Evi Devrin said:
Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said it would “Strike the enemy firmly as soon as the order is issued”.The Iranian Radio and Television Corporation confirmed the missile launch, while the authorities closed western airspace in anticipation of a possible Israeli response. The attack came after Tehran warned of retaliation following the Israeli raid on the southern suburb of Beirut earlier in the day.
“If these aggressive acts are repeated, the response will be broader and will include all American and Zionist targets throughout the region.” The Iranian Revolutionary Guard said, referring to the attacks in Lebanon and on the Iranian coast and ships around the Strait of Hormuz.
Israel said that Iran-backed Hezbollah fired toward northern Israel before the Iranian missiles were fired. The country also warned that any attack on Beirut could spark a full-scale war across the Middle East.
Trump urges restraint
At the same time, US President Donald Trump appeared to discourage further escalation. The Israeli public broadcaster, Kan, reported that Trump does not believe that Israel needs to respond further.
As the US President told the Financial Times. “I make all the decisions. He (Netanyahu) does not make decisions.”A senior US official said that Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following the missile attack and urged him not to respond immediately. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Trump believed he had convinced Netanyahu to wait.Trump “I’ve pushed Baby to postpone for now”The official said.
The missile attack further complicated efforts to revive negotiations between Tehran and Washington, as the crisis in the Middle East has continued for 100 days.Shortly before the launch, US Central Command posted on the X website that “American forces throughout the Middle East remain vigilant and ready”. Later, the US Embassy in Israel issued instructions to employees and their family members to shelter in place.
Lebanon remains a major flashpoint
The latest tensions came in the wake of the Israeli raid on the southern suburb of Beirut, which occurred days after the Lebanese and Israeli authorities agreed to a ceasefire during talks hosted by the United States, which Hezbollah rejected.“The army will continue its work throughout Lebanon.” The Israeli army spokesman said.The Israeli military campaign and ground invasion in Lebanon, as well as Hezbollah’s refusal to lay down its weapons, have complicated efforts to reach a broader agreement to end the conflict. Iran insists that any agreement must include an end to the fighting in Lebanon.Trump told a Fox News correspondent that he wants Iran to stop firing missiles and return to negotiations.
He also said that the Israeli strikes on Sunday were not coordinated with Washington, and added: “I’m not happy about that”.
Airspace closure and regional impact
Meanwhile, tensions continue around the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran maintains control while the United States continues its blockade of Iranian ports. Shipments of oil, natural gas and fertilizers were affected.Since the start of the ceasefire, Iran has fired missiles and drones at the Gulf states and said it was targeting the American military presence in the region.Following the missile launches against Israel on Sunday, the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority announced the closure of the country’s airspace for 72 hours, while the Syrian Aviation Authority ordered the closure of the airspace for 12 hours.Flights from Tehran’s main international airport have also been suspended, according to Iran’s Civil Aviation Authority, the official Mizan news agency reported.Meanwhile, the crisis that began on February 28 when Israel and the United States launched joint strikes on Iran has now continued three months later.
