By Ginika Igboke
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said early June 8 that it carried out strikes on Iranian military targets in western and central Iran, marking another sharp escalation in regional hostilities.
Iran’s paramilitary forces claimed Israel launched air-launched ballistic missiles into its territory, though no details were provided on damage or casualties.
State media reported explosions in several locations, including Isfahan, Karaj, Tabriz, and Tehran, prompting authorities to temporarily close airspace around Imam Khomeini International Airport.
Trump Urges Israel Not to Retaliate Amid Fragile Negotiations
The strikes came just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to retaliate following Iran’s missile barrage on Israel.
“I am going to call Bibi right now and tell him not to retaliate,” Trump told Axios. “We are very close to a final deal with Iran.”
Trump said he believed both sides had already exchanged strikes and warned that further escalation could jeopardize ongoing diplomatic efforts.
“We are very close to a final deal with Iran,” he said. “It is going to be a good deal. I don’t want it to blow up because of what is happening now.”
Israel Signals Readiness for Further Action
Despite calls for restraint, several Israeli officials indicated that Israel is prepared to respond with force.
Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter said Iranian missile strikes targeted Israeli territory but were largely intercepted.
He added that Israel’s strikes hit Iranian surface-to-surface missile sites and other non-energy infrastructure, and noted that Iran had fired 11 ballistic missiles toward Israel.
“Each one of those missiles can level an entire neighborhood,” Leiter said. “No self-respecting country would tolerate such an attack.”
Leiter also warned that any involvement by Hezbollah would prompt Israeli retaliation against command centers in Beirut’s southern suburbs.
Iran and Israel Exchange Missile Strikes
Iranian officials said their forces responded to Israeli attacks by targeting Israel’s Ramat David airbase with ballistic missiles.
Iran also claimed that Israel struck its Mahshahr petrochemical facility during renewed operations.
Tehran warned that continued Israeli strikes could trigger a broader military response.
In response, the IDF said it would “strike the enemy with full force the moment the green light is given.”
U.S. Officials React as Embassy Issues Security Warning
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said Iranian missiles fired toward Israel were intercepted. He later reported hearing “loud booms” and taking shelter.
The U.S. embassy in Jerusalem and its Tel Aviv branch closed temporarily and issued a shelter-in-place order for American personnel and their families.
Trump, meanwhile, downplayed the immediate impact of the strikes on diplomacy, telling Axios that the situation should not derail negotiations.
“The Iranian strikes didn’t hurt anybody,” he said. “Hopefully, Israel is not going to retaliate.”
Trump Says Israel Must Align With U.S. Diplomatic Efforts
In comments to the Financial Times, Trump suggested that Israel would have limited ability to act independently if a broader U.S.–Iran agreement is reached.
“He won’t have any choice,” Trump said. “I call the shots. I call all the shots. He doesn’t call the shots.”
He also said ongoing military developments would not derail negotiations between Washington and Tehran, which he described as still progressing.
Hezbollah Tensions Add to Regional Instability
The IDF said it also intercepted missiles launched from Iran in response to earlier Israeli strikes on a Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut.
The Iran-backed Hezbollah has continued exchanging fire with Israel despite ongoing diplomatic efforts involving the United States.
Israeli officials warned that continued attacks from Hezbollah or Iran would be met with expanded military responses, further raising the risk of a wider regional conflict.
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