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Trump pauses strikes
Iran said it would halt its attacks against Israel after the two countries exchanged rocket strikes over the past 24 hours, the first direct exchange of blows between the rivals since the ceasefire in April.
Israeli Channel 12 quoted a senior official as saying that Israel paused its strikes on Iran at the request of U.S. President Donald Trump, and the report added that if Hezbollah's attacks on Israeli towns continue, Israel would strike the southern suburbs of Beirut.
The escalation began when Israel carried out airstrikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut for the first time since the United States announced a plan for a ceasefire in Lebanon days earlier, in response to what Netanyahu said were missiles launched by Hezbollah toward Israel.
In turn, Iran launched a wave of missiles toward northern Israel, triggering sirens and forcing Israelis to seek shelter, and Israel responded by sending night warplanes that targeted Iranian military sites and a chemical plant in the Mahshahr region, according to Israeli officials.
Warnings and conditions
CNN said Iran also suspended its operations against Israel but warned it would resume them if Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon continue, and it added that a top Iranian official told CNN Tehran has “no problem” pushing forward with peace talks so long as Iran is confident the US side is honest and sincere.
CNN also reported that Israel said it will lift restrictions on schools and workplaces on Tuesday at 6 a.m. local time, while Iran’s airspace returned to “normal conditions,” and flight operations were expected to resume, according to Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization.
In parallel, the Los Angeles Times reported that Iran’s military said in a statement on Iranian state media that “Accordingly, the operations of the armed forces are hereby halted,” but it added that “if the aggressions and evils continue, including in southern Lebanon, much more severe and crushing measures will be on the way.”
The same Los Angeles Times account said Netanyahu warned that if Iran “makes the mistake and returns to attacking us, we will respond with force,” while Trump demanded that Israel and Iran immediately stop what he called ‘shooting.’
What comes next
The Washington Post said Israel and Iran signaled Monday that the attacks had concluded for now after trading volleys of long-range missile strikes that defied calls for restraint from President Donald Trump and threatened to tip the region back into all-out war.
NBC News reported that Iran declared an end to its military operations against Israel after the two sides exchanged a wave of attacks, and it said Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said “the fire on this front has been contained” but warned that if Iran attacks again, “we will respond with force.”
NBC News also said Trump urged both sides to stop “shooting” and that “final negotiations on ‘peace’ are proceeding, subject to ignorance or stupidity getting in its way,” while it noted that the US and Iran were exchanging views through Pakistan to reach a deal and that “We have not yet reached a final text.”
In the same NBC News report, Iran’s ambassador to the U.N., Amir Saeid Iravani, said the current ceasefire is “comprehensive” and that it covers the entire region, including Lebanon, and it added that Iran’s civil aviation organization said Iran’s airspace had returned to “normal conditions” and aviation operations would resume in accordance with NOTAMs.
