Israel and Iran exchange strikes, raising risk of renewed regional war
12 reported2 unconfirmed
Israel and Iran traded fire early Monday in retaliatory strikes that threatened to drag the Middle East back into a full-scale regional war, according to a report from ABC News. The exchange was the first since an April 8 ceasefire was reached, and it came as Yemen’s Houthi rebels also fired at Israel and warned they would target Israel-affiliated ships in the Red Sea. Israel launched strikes on central and western Iran early Monday in response to missile fire from Tehran, and Iran retaliated with waves of attacks. Explosions were heard in central Israel as air defenses sought to intercept incoming Iranian fire, and sirens sounded across neighboring Jordan. Iran warned that the United States would be responsible for any escalation, with Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei stating that the U.S. bears responsibility for the consequences. Two regional officials said diplomatic efforts were underway Monday to salvage the ceasefire between Iran and the United States after the exchange of strikes.
What’s reported
Israel and Iran traded fire early Monday in retaliatory strikes, the first exchange since an April 8 ceasefire.
Israel launched strikes on central and western Iran; Iran retaliated with waves of attacks.
Explosions were heard in central Israel as air defenses intercepted incoming Iranian fire; sirens sounded across Jordan.
Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said it targeted two military bases in Israel as part of Operation Nasr.
Israel’s military said it targeted truck-based surface-to-air missile launchers.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed an attack on Israel and warned they would target Israel-affiliated ships in the Red Sea.
Two regional officials said diplomatic efforts were underway to salvage the ceasefire between Iran and the U.S.
The White House did not respond to messages about whether Israeli strikes were coordinated with the U.S.
A senior U.S. official said President Donald Trump called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to urge him not to retaliate immediately for the Iranian missile attack.
Trump told a Fox News reporter he wanted Iran to stop firing missiles and return to negotiations, and said Israel’s strikes in Lebanon earlier Sunday were not coordinated with the U.S.
Iran closed the airspace around Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport after the Israeli attack.
The Israeli military confirmed a strike on a petrochemical factory in Mahshahr, Iran.
Open questions
The full extent of damage from the strikes is not detailed in the source article.
Whether the Israeli strikes were coordinated with the United States remains unconfirmed, as the White House did not respond to inquiries.
Key figures
Esmail Baghaei, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman
Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, Houthi military spokesman
Donald Trump, U.S. President
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran (killed Feb. 28, per article)
Sources: abcnews.com
