JERUSALEM: Iran launched multiple waves of missiles at Israel on Sunday in its first direct attack since an April ceasefire, escalating regional tensions after Israeli airstrikes targeted Beirut’s southern suburbs earlier in the day.
Air raid sirens sounded across parts of Israel as the military activated air defence systems to intercept incoming projectiles. The Israeli military said it detected and responded to several missile barrages, while authorities reported no immediate large-scale casualties.
The attack came hours after Israel struck what it described as a militant command centre in Beirut’s Dahiyeh district. Lebanese health authorities said the strike killed two people and injured 20 others.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) described the missile operation as a warning and warned that any further attacks would trigger a broader response against Israeli and U.S. interests across the region.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accused Washington of supporting the Beirut strike and said American and Israeli assets had become legitimate targets following the attack.
The escalation prompted the temporary closure of airspace in western Iran, while Iraq and Syria also imposed airspace restrictions as a precaution.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem instructed its personnel and their families to shelter in place as security conditions deteriorated.
The latest exchange occurred amid ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at securing a broader agreement between Washington and Tehran to end hostilities.
U.S. President Donald Trump urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to retaliate against the Iranian missile attack, warning that further military action could jeopardize a potential peace agreement.
According to U.S. media reports, Trump said both sides had already exchanged strikes and should avoid further escalation. He expressed confidence that a deal with Iran remained close and said he did not want the latest developments to derail negotiations.
In separate remarks, Trump said an agreement with Tehran could be reached within days but acknowledged that the missile attack had complicated the diplomatic process. He also criticized Israel’s strike on Beirut, saying he was dissatisfied with the operation.
The military escalation unfolded as U.S. Central Command reported destroying several Iranian drones and surveillance assets that it said posed threats to international maritime traffic near the Strait of Hormuz.
Despite the renewed violence, diplomatic contacts remained active. Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Tehran, where both sides reviewed bilateral relations and discussed ongoing diplomatic efforts related to the regional conflict.
During the visit, Naqvi delivered a letter from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressed to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.
Iranian and Pakistani officials said discussions focused on regional stability, diplomatic initiatives and avenues for strengthening cooperation between the two countries.
The latest developments mark a significant challenge to ongoing peace efforts as regional powers seek to prevent the conflict from expanding into a broader Middle East war.