Conflict in the Middle East flared up once again as Iran launched missiles at Israel, marking the first such escalation since a fragile ceasefire took effect on April 8. Several bright streaks of light were seen across the night sky as missiles hit the ground. Sirens blared across several parts of Israel, sending millions of people to shelters. The Israeli military said that it intercepted the missiles, though multiple explosions were heard in the country’s north. Within an hour, the military informed residents they could leave reinforced areas. Israel condemned the attack and signalled it was prepared to respond. “Iran has made a grave mistake,” Israel military spokesperson Brig Gen Effie Defrin said. The military’s chief of staff, Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, said it will “strike the enemy with determination as soon as the order is given”.Iran’s state broadcaster confirmed the missile launches, while authorities shut western airspace in anticipation of a possible Israeli response. The attack came after Tehran had warned of retaliation following Israel’s strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs earlier in the day.“Should these acts of aggression be repeated, the responses will be broader in scope and will encompass all American and Zionist targets throughout the region,” Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said, referring to attacks in Lebanon and on Iran’s coast and vessels around the Strait of Hormuz.Israel said that the Iranian-backed Hezbollah had fired towards northern Israel before the Iranian missile launches. The country has also warned that any attack on Beirut could reignite full-scale war across the Middle East.
Trump urges restraint
At the same time, US President Donald Trump seemed to discourage further escalation. Israel’s public broadcaster, Kan, reported that Trump did not believe Israel needed to respond further. The US President also told the Financial Times, “I call all the shots. He (Netanyahu) doesn’t call the shots.”A senior US official said Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following the missile attack and urged him not to retaliate immediately. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official said Trump believed he had persuaded Netanyahu to wait.Trump “got Bibi to hold off for the time being”, the official said.
The missile attack further complicated efforts to revive negotiations between Tehran and Washington, as the crisis in the Middle East continues for 100 days now.Shortly before the launches, the US Central Command posted on X that “US forces across the Middle East remain vigilant and ready”. The US Embassy in Israel later instructed employees and family members to shelter in place.
Lebanon remains a key flashpoint
The latest tensions followed Israel’s strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs, which took place days after Lebanese and Israeli authorities agreed to a ceasefire during US-hosted talks, which was rejected by Hezbollah.“The army will continue to act in all of Lebanon,” the Israel military spokesperson said.Israel’s military campaign and ground invasion in Lebanon, along with Hezbollah’s refusal to disarm, have complicated efforts to secure a broader agreement to end the conflict. Iran maintains that any deal must include an end to fighting in Lebanon.Trump told a Fox News Channel reporter that he wanted Iran to stop launching missiles and return to negotiations. He also said Israel’s strikes on Sunday were not coordinated with Washington and added, “I’m not happy about it”.
Airspace closures and regional impact
Meanwhile, tensions continue around the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran maintains control while the United States continues its blockade of Iranian ports. Shipments of oil, natural gas and fertiliser have been affected.Since the ceasefire began, Iran has launched missiles and drones at Gulf nations and said it was targeting the US military presence in the region.Following Sunday’s missile launches against Israel, Iraq’s Civil Aviation Authority announced the closure of the country’s airspace for 72 hours, while Syria’s aviation authority ordered a 12-hour airspace shutdown.Flights from Tehran’s main international airport were also suspended, according to Iran’s civil aviation authority, as reported by the official Mizan news agency.Meanwhile, the crisis that began on February 28 with Israel and US launching joint strikes on Iran has now continued beyond the three month mark.
