Iran, Israel Exchange Missiles as Ceasefire Faces Further Strain

Iran and Israel have resumed hostilities after warnings from Tehran that Israel must halt its ongoing assault on Lebanon or face more attacks.

Multiple rounds of Iranian strikes targeted Israel on Sunday evening, in what the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) called the “beginning of a full week of continuous strikes”.

It is the first time Iran and Israel have launched attacks on each other’s territory since the ceasefire took effect in April.

The Iranian strikes came hours after Israel said it struck Hezbollah targets in southern Beirut.

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said the strikes were a response to Hezbollah firing rockets at Israel.

Before Israel’s reprisal, US President Donald Trump said he would urge Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to hit back.

“The Iranian strikes didn’t hurt anybody,” Trump said.

“Each of them had their fun. Israel had its strike and Iran had its strike. We don’t need another one.”

Hours later, the IDF said it struck military targets in western and central Iran.

Loud explosions were heard in Tehran, Tabriz and Isfahan after the IDF’s announcement.

The IDF also said it struck an Iranian petrochemical facility in Mahshahr, in the south-west of the country.

Iran has long argued that the ceasefire agreement it has with US and Israel should cover Lebanon but Israel insists that Lebanon is not part of the truce, saying its war against Hezbollah will continue.

The latest salvo has raised fears of another round of dramatic escalation of the Middle East conflict.

The European Union and other Western countries, including Canada, have urged Iran and Israel to exercise restraint.