**TEHRAN —** Iran announced it has halted missile strikes on Israel following a major escalation in direct attacks between the two countries, officials said Monday.
Iran's military said it suspended operations against Israel after waves of missile exchanges and Israeli retaliatory airstrikes, according to statements carried by state media. The halt came hours after Iran launched ballistic missiles at Israeli targets in retaliation for Israeli strikes on Hezbollah positions in Beirut, Lebanon.
The exchanges marked the most significant direct confrontation since a U.S.-brokered ceasefire took effect in April. Israel responded to the Iranian missile barrage with airstrikes on targets inside Iran, including air defense systems and a petrochemical complex in Mahshahr, officials from both sides confirmed.
Iran's armed forces described the missile launches as a "painful response" and stated that Israel had "learned a lesson," according to reports from Iranian state television. The military command announced the cessation of operations but warned it would resume with "much harsher and more forceful actions" if Israel continued strikes in Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had stopped its strikes on Iran, claiming they had achieved their deterrent goals, while emphasizing readiness to respond to any further threats. U.S. President Donald Trump urged both sides to pursue an immediate ceasefire, stating that Israel and Iran were "looking to do an immediate ceasefire."
The escalation began on Sunday when Israeli forces struck southern suburbs of Beirut, targeting Hezbollah sites, Iranian officials and media reported. Iran, a key backer of Hezbollah, responded with missile attacks on Israel late Sunday and into Monday. Israel then conducted airstrikes on Iranian territory early Monday.
Details on casualties and damage from the latest exchanges remained limited and unverified in full. Israeli officials reported interceptions of most incoming missiles with minimal damage, while Iranian sources described strikes on military targets. Both sides have historically provided differing accounts of outcomes in such incidents.
The flare-up comes amid broader regional tensions tied to the ongoing conflict involving Israel, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Iran's role. A fragile truce had held since April, but repeated Israeli operations in Lebanon strained the agreement, according to diplomats and officials familiar with the situation.
As of Monday afternoon, no further attacks were reported. International mediators, including the United States, continued efforts to prevent a wider escalation. Details on the full extent of the damage and any diplomatic follow-up remained unclear.
