Iran Fires Missiles At Israel For First Time Since April Ceasefire

Iran fired missiles at Israel for the first time since a ceasefire took effect in early April, according to Israel and Iran’s state broadcaster, raising the possibility of a return to heavy fighting.

“Iran fires missiles at Israel after it attacked Beirut Iran has launched a barrage of missiles towards Israel, after warnings from Tehran that Israel must halt its ongoing assault on southern Lebanon or face more attacks”

Al Jazeera

The Washington Post reported that Iran launched “several barrages of missiles toward Israel” on Sunday, while the BBC said Israel was closing crossings into Gaza again after Iran’s strikes in the north, including the Rafah Crossing and Kerem Shalom.

Al Jazeera

The BBC also reported that COGAT said the closure was part of “a number of necessary security measures,” and that the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem would be closed on Monday due to the “current security situation in Israel.”

In a statement carried by the BBC, the embassy directed all U.S. government employees to “shelter in place, and be prepared to move to a protected shelter” until further notice.

The Guardian described the missile barrage as coming after Israel struck the southern suburbs of Beirut earlier in the day, with the Israeli military warning of a second barrage shortly after the first.

U.S. President Donald Trump told Fox News that the Iranian strikes are “certainly not going to help negotiations,” and suggested to Iran: “You’ve shot your missiles, that’s enough, get back to the table and make a deal.”

The BBC quoted UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper urging both sides to “show restraint and de-escalate immediately,” adding that “Negotiations must continue toward a lasting settlement” for peace and stability.

Al-Manar TV Lebanon

Trump also said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would have “no choice” but to accept whatever deal the U.S. reaches with Iran, and the BBC relayed Trump’s line: “He won’t have any choice,” while noting Trump said he “calls the shots.”

Israel’s military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said, “Iran has made a grave mistake,” and the AP reported that Israel’s military said it intercepted the missiles and that multiple explosions were heard in the north.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard threatened broader retaliation, with the AP quoting: “Should these acts of aggression be repeated, the responses will be broader in scope and will encompass all American and Zionist targets throughout the region.”

The BBC said the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem would be closed on Monday, and it reported that the embassy directed employees to shelter in place and be prepared to move to a protected shelter until further notice.

The Guardian reported that oil prices climbed more than 3% amid the escalation, with Brent crude rising 3.29% to $96.15 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate up 3.25% to $93.48 a barrel.

The AP reported that Iran closed its western airspace to brace for a possible response, and that Tehran’s state broadcaster confirmed the launches while Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it would respond if aggression was repeated.

In the BBC’s account, Iran’s foreign ministry said its armed forces hit several “military targets” north of the “occupied Palestinian terroritories,” and it framed the strikes as coming after a “repeated violation” of the April ceasefire.

The Guardian added that Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf threatened U.S. bases and assets in the region, claiming the latest military action turned them into “legitimate targets.”