By Anietie anii-bassey
Israel and Iran exchanged a new round of military strikes early Monday, raising fears that the fragile ceasefire that had temporarily halted months of fighting could be unraveling and pushing the Middle East back toward a broader regional conflict.
Israeli authorities reported that two separate waves of Iranian missiles were launched toward the country during the early hours of Monday morning, prompting air raid sirens across several regions and triggering emergency warnings for residents to immediately seek shelter.
Loud explosions were heard over central Israel as the country’s air defense systems attempted to intercept the incoming projectiles.
The missile launches from Iran came shortly after Israeli forces carried out strikes on targets in central and western Iran. Israeli officials described the operation as a response to Iranian missile fire, marking one of the most significant exchanges of hostilities since a ceasefire was established on April 8 following weeks of intense warfare.
The latest confrontation has heightened concerns that the uneasy truce between the two longtime adversaries may be collapsing despite international efforts to prevent a renewed conflict.
Tensions had already been mounting after Israel conducted airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs over the weekend, an operation carried out despite reported requests from Washington urging restraint. Tehran warned that retaliation would follow, setting the stage for the renewed cycle of attacks.
Monday also marked the 100th day since the conflict began on February 28, when Israel and the United States carried out operations that resulted in the deaths of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior Iranian officials. Although large-scale fighting was halted by the April ceasefire agreement, numerous unresolved issues have continued to fuel instability.
Among the most significant concerns is Iran’s continued control over the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically vital waterway through which a substantial portion of the world’s oil and natural gas supplies traditionally pass. Ongoing clashes involving Hezbollah in Lebanon have also complicated diplomatic efforts aimed at securing a lasting peace.
The renewed exchange of attacks has increased worries about disruptions to global energy markets, particularly as Iran is believed to retain significant stockpiles of highly enriched uranium while regional armed groups continue to demonstrate their willingness to participate in the conflict.
Iranian state television reported explosions in several cities, including Isfahan, Karaj, Tabriz and the capital, Tehran. Authorities did not immediately disclose the specific locations targeted or provide casualty figures and damage assessments.
A witness in Tehran reported hearing at least one powerful explosion from the western side of the city, while Iranian officials temporarily closed the airspace surrounding Imam Khomeini International Airport as a precaution following the Israeli operation.
Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard claimed that Israel employed air-launched ballistic missiles during the strikes but did not provide additional details regarding the weapons used or the intended targets.
Iranian news agencies also reported that an Israeli strike hit a petrochemical facility in the city of Mahshahr in Khuzestan province. Initial reports offered no clear assessment of the extent of the damage, although the Israeli military later confirmed that it had targeted the industrial site.
Earlier on Monday, Israel’s military announced that it had detected a missile launched from Yemen toward Israeli territory, activating warning sirens in several areas. Emergency services later stated that there were no immediate reports of injuries or property damage resulting from the incident.
The missile was widely believed to have originated from territory controlled by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement, which has previously launched attacks against Israel during periods of heightened regional tension. The Houthis did not immediately claim responsibility for the launch, although the group has historically delayed public acknowledgment of its military operations.
Elsewhere in the region, missile warning sirens sounded in parts of Saudi Arabia near Al Kharj governorate, an area that hosts Prince Sultan Air Base, where United States forces are stationed. Saudi authorities later announced that the perceived threat had passed without providing further information about the cause of the alert.
The White House did not immediately comment on Israel’s latest military actions or indicate whether they had been coordinated with Washington.
However, a senior U.S. official revealed on Sunday that President Donald Trump had spoken directly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following Iran’s missile attack and urged him to delay any immediate retaliation. According to the official, Trump believed he had persuaded Netanyahu to exercise restraint, at least temporarily.
The official, speaking anonymously because of the private nature of the conversation, said the U.S. president had convinced the Israeli leader to hold off before launching a response, although no additional details of the discussion were disclosed.
Negotiations between the United States and Iran aimed at preserving the ceasefire have faced repeated setbacks amid continued violence involving Hezbollah and Israel’s ongoing military presence in southern Lebanon. Israeli forces have expanded operations into areas they had not occupied in decades, raising fears that the conflict could spread further across the region.
Israel’s airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs on Sunday were followed by Iran’s retaliatory missile attack, which in turn prompted Monday’s Israeli strikes on Iranian territory, illustrating the increasingly rapid cycle of escalation between the two countries.
President Trump had earlier expressed frustration over the developments, stating that he wanted Iran to halt its missile launches and return to diplomatic negotiations. He also indicated that Israel’s strikes in Lebanon had not been coordinated with the United States and said he was dissatisfied with the timing of those operations.
In comments published before Israel’s latest attacks on Iran, Trump also asserted that he retained significant influence over Israeli military decision-making during the conflict.
Speaking in a telephone interview, the U.S. president declared that he was directing the course of events and suggested that Prime Minister Netanyahu would ultimately follow his lead regarding the conduct of the war.
As missile exchanges continue and tensions intensify across multiple fronts, international observers are increasingly concerned that the conflict could expand beyond the current theaters of operation and draw additional regional actors into a wider and more dangerous confrontation.
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