JERUSALEM — Israel confirmed it has ended strikes on Iran amid ongoing ceasefire talks, officials said Monday, following a brief but intense exchange of attacks between the two countries.
The Israeli military said operations against Iranian targets concluded after retaliatory airstrikes early Monday, according to statements from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office. The moves came hours after Iran launched ballistic missiles at Israel in response to Israeli strikes on Hezbollah positions in Beirut, Lebanon.
Iran's military earlier announced it had halted its operations against Israel, state media reported. Both sides indicated the pause followed appeals from U.S. President Donald Trump for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
Netanyahu said in a televised statement that Israel had stopped its strikes on Iran, claiming the action had achieved its deterrent objectives. He warned that Israel would respond forcefully to any further threats, according to reports from Israeli media.
The exchanges marked the most significant direct confrontation since a U.S.-brokered ceasefire took effect in April. Israel conducted airstrikes on military targets in western and central Iran, including a petrochemical complex in Mahshahr, Israeli officials confirmed. Iran described its missile launches as a limited response to the Beirut strikes.
Trump said both Israel and Iran were "looking to do an immediate ceasefire," with final negotiations on peace proceeding, according to his public statements. International mediators continued efforts to stabilize the situation.
The escalation began on Sunday when Israeli forces struck southern suburbs of Beirut targeting Hezbollah sites, prompting Iran's missile response late Sunday into Monday, officials from both sides said. Israel then carried out its retaliatory strikes early Monday.
Details on casualties from the latest exchanges remained limited. Israeli officials reported that most incoming missiles were intercepted with minimal damage, while Iranian sources described strikes on military targets. Full verification of impacts was not immediately available.
The flare-up occurred against the backdrop of a fragile regional truce established in April following broader U.S.-Israeli actions against Iran. Tensions have persisted over Israel's operations in Lebanon and Iran's support for Hezbollah.
As of Monday afternoon, no further attacks were reported. Diplomatic efforts, including those led by the United States, focused on preventing a wider escalation. Details on the full extent of damage and the next steps in ceasefire talks remained unclear.
