In the early hours of Monday, Israeli forces launched attacks on military installations located in western and central Iran, intensifying a conflict that reignited just hours after a ceasefire was violated. The escalation followed multiple missile barrages fired by Iran towards Israel on Sunday.
Despite a direct appeal from President Trump to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging restraint in the aftermath of Iran’s missile assault, Israel proceeded with retaliatory strikes. According to a senior U.S. official, who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity, Trump had believed he persuaded Netanyahu to delay any immediate military response.
Yet, Israel moved forward with its retaliation.
On Sunday, Trump publicly called for Iran to cease its aggression, advising, “You’ve launched your missiles, that’s enough,” during an interview on Fox News. He encouraged Iran to return to negotiations. In response to the heightened tensions, the U.S. Embassy in Israel advised their staff and families to seek shelter, while U.S. Central Command declared on X that American forces in the Middle East remained “vigilant and ready.”
Sunday’s Collapse, a Ceasefire on Life Support
The breakdown of the ceasefire began with a drone attack by Hezbollah on Dovev Barracks in northern Israel. Israel retaliated by targeting the southern suburbs of Beirut with airstrikes, hitting a residential area in Mreijeh and resulting in two fatalities and 20 injuries, as reported by Lebanon’s health ministry. This action occurred despite Washington’s plea for Israel to refrain from striking Beirut.
Iran’s counterattack unfolded in two separate missile waves. The first wave triggered sirens across northern Israel, with four missiles launched, as reported by the IDF. Iranian state media announced a subsequent wave, which Israeli authorities later confirmed. Fortunately, the IDF stated that all incoming missiles were intercepted, and no casualties were reported.
READ MORE: Iran Fires Missiles at Israel for First Time Since April Ceasefire
Iran’s military said Israel had “crossed all red lines” and warned that “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” against Israel and its supporters. The IDF, for its part, said it was already preparing for “a variety of defensive and offensive scenarios” before the Iranian launch.
By early Monday, Israel had answered that warning with strikes inside Iran.
Where the Broader Deal Stands
A preliminary memorandum of understanding had reportedly been reached in late May to extend the ceasefire 60 days and open formal permanent peace negotiations, covering the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions relief, enriched uranium limits, and a long-term framework. It still required Trump’s final approval and had not been signed.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Sunday that any agreement with the U.S. must “fully safeguard” Iran’s national interests and that Tehran “does not wait for the green light of any country.” Hezbollah rejected the renewed Lebanon-Israel truce reached on June 4 in U.S.-hosted talks, with its leader saying the group had “given no commitment to anyone.”
Iran had warned before Sunday that an Israeli attack on Beirut would renew full-scale war across the Middle East, even as Pakistan and other mediators were trying to restart talks between Tehran and Washington. Israel struck Beirut. Iran fired on Israel. Israel struck Iran.
Trump had previously said that if Iran kills American troops, that would be “a good reason” to restart the war. No American casualties have been reported. But with Israel now having struck inside Iran over a direct presidential request to stand down, the distance between this moment and an open resumption of the war has narrowed considerably.
Editor’s Note: Thanks to President Trump and his administration’s bold leadership, we are respected on the world stage, and our enemies are being put on notice.
