Iran and Israel have halted strikes against each other's territories after hours of dramatic exchanges. Both countries announced the suspension of strikes following a reported call by US President Donald Trump for an “immediate” end to the violence.
Ceasefire Announcement
Iranian authorities first declared a pause in their military operation. Subsequently, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel's “fire is on hold for now” but warned that the country would not hesitate to respond forcefully if strikes resume. Tehran issued a similar warning in its announcement on Monday.
Iran's Warning
Iran's top military command, Khatam al-Anbiya central headquarters, stated that Iran would respond with a “more severe and forceful response than before” should Israel's attacks continue, “including in southern Lebanon.”
Background of Strikes
The countries began trading strikes on Monday morning, shattering the ceasefire and escalating regional tension. This came a day after Iran fired a missile at northern Israel in response to Israel's attack on Lebanon. At least two people were killed and 20 wounded in the attack, which affected the Dahieh district in the Beirut suburb of Southern Lebanon.
Iran accused Israel of crossing “all red lines” following the attack. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also accused the US and Israel of failing to meet their commitments and violating the “ceasefire by repeatedly attacking Iranian shores and vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, the Sea of Oman and the Indian Ocean.”
“Tonight's operation was a warning; if aggressions are repeated, the responses will be broader,” Iran said on Sunday. By Monday morning, both Israel and Iran were trading fire. Explosions were reported in Tehran, Tabriz, and Isfahan, after which Israel announced that Iran had fired a second wave of strikes into its territory.
Concerns Over Lebanon
Israel's continued attack on Lebanon had been a source of tension throughout the ceasefire. There were concerns that Israel's expanding campaign in Lebanon could affect the US-Iran ceasefire, especially with Tehran insisting that Lebanon be included in a broader ceasefire deal.
Trump's Role
President Trump said the US was “very close” to a deal to end the three-month-long standoff with Iran, which he did not want to put at risk. He told Axios that he warned Netanyahu that the Israeli leader risked isolating himself with continued strikes against Iran.
“I said, 'Bibi, you better be careful, or you will be on your own very soon,'” Trump was quoted as saying. He stated that five other regional countries were worried about the escalation and asked him to intervene, though he did not specify the countries.
Trump also told Axios that Iranian officials had contacted him, saying they would stop if Israel backed off. “They called us and said that they are not doing any more attacks and asked us to tell Israel not to do any more attacks,” he said.
