TEL AVIV — Israel struck military targets in Iran early Monday, hours after Iran launched a barrage of missiles toward Israeli territory, the first such direct attack since a ceasefire took effect in April.
The Israel Defense Forces said it conducted airstrikes on targets in western and central Iran, including areas near Tehran, Tabriz and Isfahan. Iranian media reported explosions in those locations.
Iran's missile attack followed Israeli strikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut's southern suburbs on Sunday, which Tehran viewed as a violation of truce terms, according to reports. Most of the Iranian missiles were intercepted, with no immediate casualties reported in Israel, the IDF said.
The exchange marked the most significant breach of the fragile April ceasefire between the parties involved in the broader 2026 conflict. The ceasefire had halted major hostilities after weeks of intense fighting that began earlier in the year.
Israeli officials described the operation as a response to the Iranian missile barrage. "The Israeli Air Force is operating to intercept and strike threats where necessary," the IDF said in a statement.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated that it targeted Israeli airbases, including Tel Nof and Nevatim, in retaliation for Israeli actions, according to reports. Details on damage from either side's strikes remained unclear early Monday.
The escalation comes amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to broker a more lasting peace deal. U.S. President Donald Trump has been involved in mediation attempts, with recent comments indicating openness to easing sanctions under certain conditions.
Casualty figures were not immediately available. Previous rounds of exchanges in the conflict have caused deaths and injuries on both sides, with numbers attributed to respective official statements.
The developments threatened to complicate broader regional stability, including efforts related to Lebanon and other areas. Air raid sirens sounded in parts of Israel, including Jerusalem, during the Iranian attack.
As of Monday morning, no further immediate strikes were reported. Both sides have issued statements affirming their positions, with Iran condemning the Israeli actions and Israel stating its strikes were limited to military targets.
International observers are monitoring the situation closely as mediators continue their work.
