Iran fired missiles at Israel in the first such bombardment since a fragile ceasefire took effect in early April, raising the possibility of a return to violent fighting and complicating mediation efforts to end the war.
Iran’s state broadcaster confirmed the launches, and Iran closed its western airspace to prepare for a possible response. Tehran warned of a response after Israel struck the southern suburb of Beirut without warning earlier on Sunday in defiance of Washington’s request a few days ago to withdraw. Israel said Iran-backed Hezbollah fired into northern Israel earlier in the day.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard said in a statement that referred to the attacks in Lebanon, on the Iranian coast, and on ships around the Strait of Hormuz: “If these aggressive actions are repeated, the response will be broader and will include all American and Zionist targets throughout the region.”
Sirens sounded in several areas of Israel, prompting millions to flee in search of shelter. The Israeli army said that it intercepted the missiles, and heard several explosions in the north. Less than an hour later, the army said people could leave areas reinforced against rocket attacks.
The Israeli army spokesman, Brig. Gen. Yves Defren said. Army Chief of Staff, Lieutenant-General Eyal Zamir, said that the army “will strike the enemy with all decisiveness as soon as the order is issued.”
But the Israeli public broadcaster (Kan) said that US President Donald Trump told it that he did not believe Israel needed to respond further.
Iran has warned that an attack on Beirut would renew a large-scale war across the Middle East, even as Pakistan and other mediators try to resume talks between Tehran and Washington.
“US forces across the Middle East remain vigilant and ready,” US Central Command posted on X shortly before the missiles were launched.
The Israeli attack on Beirut came just days after the Lebanese and Israeli governments agreed to a ceasefire in talks hosted by the United States, despite Hezbollah rejecting the agreement. The Lebanese Ministry of Health said that the raid on a residential building resulted in the death of two people and the injury of 20 others.
Get daily national news
Get Canada Daily News delivered to your inbox so you don’t miss the day’s top stories.
The Israeli army spokesman said: “The army will continue to operate in all of Lebanon.”
Israeli strikes and a ground invasion in Lebanon to pursue Hezbollah, and the militant group’s resistance to disarming, have complicated the comprehensive agreement to end the war in the Middle East.
Iran says any agreement must include an end to the fighting in Lebanon.
Trump told a Fox News correspondent that he wants the Iranians to stop firing missiles and return to the negotiating table. He also said that the Israeli strikes earlier on Sunday were not coordinated with the United States and “I’m not happy about that.”
Israel announced on Monday that it would strike the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital, but urgent talks through Washington stopped that on the condition that Hezbollah stop targeting Israeli border towns.
Hezbollah, which claimed responsibility for shooting at Israel earlier on Sunday, wants to end direct talks between Lebanon and Israel. Instead, it supports Iran’s position that the comprehensive ceasefire agreement between Tehran and Washington includes the situation in Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is seeking re-election later this year, is under intense domestic pressure to respond to the threat from Iran and Hezbollah, which has paralyzed the lives of thousands of residents along Israel’s northern border.
But Trump made clear that he does not want to resume the war.
Trump said earlier Sunday in an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” that he would like to see “a more precise attack on Hezbollah.” He also said he “does not demand” that Lebanon be part of a comprehensive ceasefire agreement in the Iran war.
Iran continues to tighten its grip on the Strait of Hormuz, and the United States continues its blockade of Iranian ports, with oil, natural gas, and fertilizer shipments affected and the global economy hurting.
Since the ceasefire took effect, Iran has launched missiles and drones at the Gulf states and said it was targeting the American military presence. After it was launched against Israel, the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority announced that the country’s airspace would be closed for 72 hours, and the Syrian Aviation Authority announced the closure of the airspace for 12 hours.
Diplomacy continues before and after the missile launches
Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi was in Tehran on Sunday and delivered a message to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei from Pakistani Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, IRNA reported. No details were provided about the content of the message.
Khamenei has not appeared in public since his appointment as ruler of the Islamic Republic after his father was killed on February 28, when Israeli and American strikes sparked the war.
Pakistani authorities said that Islamabad, with the support of countries in the region including Qatar, Turkey and Egypt, is working to help overcome differences.
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said that the Egyptian and Qatari foreign ministers discussed in Cairo “proposed elements” of a possible agreement between the United States and Iran, without details.
After Iran fired missiles at Israel, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi spoke with his counterparts in Britain, Egypt and Turkey, as well as the Pakistani Army Chief of Staff, Iranian state television reported.
—Chehayeb reported from Beirut, Magdy from Cairo, Lidman from Tel Aviv, Israel, and Anna from Lovell, New York. Associated Press writers Hassan Ammar in Lebanon, Munir Ahmed in Islamabad, Matthew Lee in Washington, Abby Sewell in Beirut and Michelle L. Price in Bridgewater, New Jersey.
& Edition 2026 The Canadian Press
