Israel launched airstrikes against military targets in western and central Iran early Monday, dramatically escalating a conflict that had already shattered a fragile ceasefire only hours earlier. The strikes came after Iran fired multiple waves of missiles toward Israel on Sunday, setting off alarms across northern portions of the country and reigniting fears that the region could be sliding back toward a broader war.
What makes the latest developments particularly significant is that the Israeli response reportedly came despite direct efforts by President Donald Trump to prevent immediate retaliation.
According to the Associated Press, citing a senior U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity, Trump personally called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after Iran's missile launches and urged him not to respond right away. The president reportedly believed he had convinced Netanyahu to hold off.
Israel struck Iran anyway.
Publicly, Trump had urged restraint. During a Fox News interview Sunday, he delivered a straightforward message to Tehran.
“What I would suggest to Iran: You’ve shot your missiles, that’s enough,” Trump said. “Get back to the table and make a deal.”
As tensions surged, the U.S. Embassy in Israel instructed American personnel and their families to shelter in place. U.S. Central Command also signaled concern, posting on X that American forces throughout the Middle East remained “vigilant and ready.”
The collapse of the ceasefire unfolded rapidly.
The latest round of violence reportedly began with a Hezbollah drone attack targeting Dovev Barracks in northern Israel. Israel responded by striking Beirut’s southern suburbs, including a residential building in the Mreijeh area. Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported two deaths and roughly twenty injuries.
The strike carried additional significance because the Biden administration had reportedly urged Israel not to target Beirut. Israel proceeded with the operation regardless.
Iran answered with missile launches directed toward Israel. The Israel Defense Forces said sirens sounded across northern Israel after four missiles were launched in an initial wave. Iranian state media later reported a second wave of missile attacks, which Israeli officials confirmed.
According to the IDF, all incoming missiles were intercepted and no injuries were reported.
Iranian military officials responded with a sharp warning, accusing Israel of having “crossed all red lines” and threatening stronger retaliation if Israeli operations continued.
“If it expands its attacks in that area, or responds to Iran's action, it will face more forceful blows, and devastating attacks will be launched,” Iranian officials warned.
Israel’s military signaled it was already preparing for that possibility. Before the missile launches, the IDF said it was ready for “a variety of defensive and offensive scenarios.”
By early Monday, those offensive scenarios had become reality as Israeli aircraft carried out strikes inside Iranian territory.
The military escalation comes at a particularly delicate moment diplomatically. Reports indicate negotiators had been working toward a broader framework that would extend the ceasefire for sixty days while opening formal talks on long-term issues including sanctions relief, limits on enriched uranium, maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, and a permanent peace arrangement.
That framework had reportedly not yet received final approval and remained unsigned.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi signaled Sunday that Tehran would not accept any agreement that failed to protect what it considers core national interests.
At the same time, Hezbollah has publicly rejected aspects of the recent Lebanon-Israel ceasefire discussions, with the group's leadership insisting it had made no commitments regarding the arrangement.
The result is a situation that appears increasingly unstable. Iran warned that an Israeli strike on Beirut would risk reigniting a broader regional conflict. Israel struck Beirut. Iran launched missiles at Israel. Israel then carried out strikes inside Iran.