Tehran, Iran. Iran’s military said on Monday that its first wave of attacks on Israel since a ceasefire in April had ended, while warning that strikes would resume if Israel continued attacks on Lebanon. There was no immediate response from Israel.
Military exchange and warning
Israel launched attacks on Iran after Tehran fired missiles towards Israel late on Sunday. Iran said its strikes were in retaliation for Israeli attacks on the outskirts of Beirut.
Iran’s military headquarters said it had “delivered a painful response” against Israel for its attacks on Lebanon, including Sunday’s strikes on the outskirts of Beirut.
“Accordingly, the operations of the armed forces are hereby declared halted; however, it is emphasized that if the aggressions and acts of mischief continue — including in southern Lebanon — much more severe and crushing actions than before will follow,” it said.
Targets and retaliation
Israel struck a petrochemical plant in southwestern Iran that it said was used to produce ballistic missiles. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it retaliated with a strike aimed at a similar Israeli plant in the city of Haifa.
The exchange marked the first direct confrontation between Israel and Iran since April.
U.S. response and diplomatic efforts
Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump called on Israel and Iran to “immediately stop ‘shooting’”.
In social media posts, Trump said both sides wanted “an immediate CEASEFIRE! Final negotiations on ‘Peace’ are proceeding, subject to ignorance or stupidity getting in its way.” He also said a U.S. blockade of Iranian ports would remain in place until a final deal was reached.
An Israeli official said Trump spoke on Monday with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Market impact
The attacks pushed oil prices up about 4% and threatened U.S.-led efforts to broker an agreement to end the war.