The Israeli military announced that it had launched strikes against military targets in western and central Iran. These attacks followed an initial rocket launch by Iran against Israel on Sunday. Iranian sources stated that this missile fire was, in turn, a reaction to previous Israeli attacks in Lebanon.
According to reports from US media, the Israeli counter-strikes reportedly took place despite a warning from US President Donald Trump. Trump was said to have called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging him not to respond immediately to the Iranian rocket attack. Trump believed he had convinced Netanyahu to wait, an assessment that was clearly mistaken.
Meanwhile, Iran had previously cautioned that any further Israeli attacks on Beirut could trigger a wider conflict in the Middle East. Efforts to restart dialogue between Tehran and Washington are being made by mediators, including Pakistan. The US Central Command confirmed on X that US forces in the Middle East remain watchful and ready for action. Subsequently, the US embassy in Israel directed its staff and their families to take protective measures.
