Israel Strikes Targets in Iran After Missile Attack; Tensions Escalate Across Middle East

The conflict between Israel and Iran intensified once again after Israel announced that it had carried out airstrikes on military targets in western and central Iran.

In a statement posted on Telegram, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that the Israeli Air Force had targeted military installations linked to the Iranian regime. Shortly afterwards, Iranian state media reported explosions in multiple cities, including Tehran, Tabriz and Isfahan. Reports also indicated blasts near Karaj, a city located west of the Iranian capital.

The latest developments come just hours after Iran launched a barrage of missiles toward northern Israel on Sunday night, raising fears of a broader regional conflict despite a fragile ceasefire that had been in place since April.

According to Israeli authorities, around 10 missiles were fired in quick succession. No casualties or injuries were reported in Israel. Tehran said the attack was carried out in retaliation for an Israeli strike earlier in the day on Beirut's southern Dahiyeh district, where Israel claimed to have targeted facilities associated with the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement, The Times of Israel reported.

Following the Iranian missile launch, US President Donald Trump sought to prevent further escalation. Trump said he intended to urge Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against retaliatory action, arguing that a military response could jeopardize ongoing diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran.

Speaking to the Financial Times, Trump stressed that negotiations with Iran remained close to producing results and insisted the missile attack would not derail the talks. He also underscored Washington's influence over the situation, saying that decisions regarding the conflict ultimately rested with the United States.

The missile strike marked the first direct Iranian attack on Israel since the ceasefire that ended weeks of hostilities triggered by joint US-Israeli military operations against Iran earlier this year. Although the truce reduced direct confrontation between the two countries, violence has continued elsewhere in the region, particularly in Lebanon, where clashes involving Hezbollah have persisted.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps described Sunday's missile attack as a warning and cautioned that any future Israeli or American military actions would be met with a broader response targeting interests across the region.

The Israeli Air Force confirmed that air defence systems were activated to intercept incoming missiles. The military also issued emergency alerts to residents in affected areas, instructing them to move to protected shelters and remain there until further notice.

Meanwhile, aviation operations in Iran have been affected by the rising tensions. Iranian media reported that authorities suspended all incoming flights to Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport until further notice. The airport had only recently resumed normal operations after previous closures linked to regional instability.

The renewed hostilities also rattled global energy markets. Oil prices surged during Asian trading hours on Monday amid concerns that the conflict could threaten energy supplies from the Middle East.

Brent crude, the international oil benchmark, rose 2.6 percent to $95.50 per barrel, while US crude futures climbed 2.5 percent to $92.75. Analysts noted that oil prices have remained volatile in recent weeks as investors assess the potential impact of renewed military tensions on global energy flows.

With both Israel and Iran exchanging military actions and diplomatic efforts struggling to contain the crisis, concerns are growing that the region could once again move closer to a wider confrontation.