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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Israel and Iran traded fire early Monday in retaliatory strikes that threatened to drag the wider Middle East back into
a full-scale regional war, while Yemen’s Houthi rebels also fired at Israel and warned they would target Israel-affiliated ships in the Red Sea, further escalating tension. Israel launched strikes on central and western Iran early Monday in response to missile fire from Tehran, with Iran retaliating through waves of attacks, marking the most serious crossfire since a ceasefire was reached on April 8.
Explosions could be heard in central Israel as air defenses attempted to intercept incoming Iranian fire, with missile sirens sounding across neighboring Jordan.Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard reported targeting two military bases in Israel, characterizing the attacks as part of Operation Nasr, or “Victory.” The Guard indicated that the missile strikes were launched following Israeli attacks on radar sites in three areas of Iran.
Tehran issued a warning of retaliation on Sunday after Israel conducted an unannounced strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs, disregarding a recent request from Washington to de-escalate.
Monday marked the 100th day of the Iran war, which commenced on February 28 following the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior Iranian leaders by Israel and the United States.
The conflict persisted until the ceasefire on April 8, but efforts to achieve a permanent resolution have been hindered by Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil and natural gas trade, alongside ongoing hostilities between Israel and the Lebanese militia Hezbollah.
With global energy supplies at risk, Iran's substantial stockpile of highly enriched uranium, and Yemen's Houthi rebels actively participating in the conflict, the likelihood of a renewed outbreak of war appears to be increasing.
Diplomatic officials indicated that concerted efforts were underway on Monday to salvage the ceasefire between Iran and the United States following the exchange of strikes between Israel and Iran.
Representatives from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan, and Qatar urged the U.S. administration to exert pressure on Israel to curb its strikes on Iran and Beirut, while also advising Iranian officials to cease their attacks on Israel. Both officials provided their insights on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the discussions.
One official involved in mediation efforts between Iran and the U.S. expressed frustration over the Israeli strike on Beirut, noting it occurred while Pakistan’s interior minister was in Tehran to facilitate U.S.-Iranian negotiations.
The mediators informed the U.S. administration that the Israeli attack on Beirut disrupted their attempts to reach a diplomatic agreement, emphasizing that the Trump administration needed to intervene to stop what they termed Netanyahu’s reckless maneuvers.
The White House has not responded to inquiries regarding the coordination of the Israeli strikes with the U.S. government.
A senior U.S. official revealed that President Donald Trump had contacted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to advise against immediate retaliation following the Iranian missile attack, suggesting that Trump believed he had persuaded Netanyahu to exercise restraint.
Trump reportedly stated, “I got Bibi to hold off for the time being,” although further details of the conversation were not disclosed, and there was no immediate comment from Netanyahu’s office.
Prior to the Israeli strikes on Iran, Trump indicated that he wanted Iran to cease missile attacks and return to the negotiating table, expressing dissatisfaction with Israel's actions in Lebanon, which he asserted were not coordinated with the U.S.
Speaking to The Financial Times, Trump insisted he dictated the terms of how the war should be conducted, asserting, “He won’t have any choice. I call the shots. I call all the shots. He (Netanyahu) doesn’t call the shots.”
Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for attacks on Israel and warned that Israel-affiliated vessels would again be targeted in the Red Sea, heightening the risk for maritime security in the region.
The announcement from Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree was broadcast on the Houthis’ al-Masirah satellite news channel. During the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, the Houthis have been implicated in numerous attacks on maritime targets, resulting in casualties and significant disruptions to shipping routes in the Red Sea.
These assaults have severely affected transit through Egypt’s Suez Canal, a crucial artery for global trade, which has been a significant source of revenue for Egypt.
The Houthis' renewed threats come as Saudi Arabia increasingly relies on its East-West Pipeline to export oil through the Red Sea, seeking alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian state television reported explosions in Isfahan, Karaj, Tabriz, and Tehran, though specific details on the impacts of the strikes were not immediately available. A witness in Tehran described hearing at least one significant blast in the western part of the capital.
In response to the Israeli strikes, Iran closed airspace around Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport, its primary airfield.
Officials did not disclose specific details regarding the targets or extent of damage caused by the strikes, but Iran’s Revolutionary Guard indicated that Israel employed air-launched ballistic missiles in the attack.
The semiofficial Fars and Mehr news agencies reported that Israeli strikes targeted a petrochemical facility in Mahshahr, Khuzestan province, although no damage assessments were provided. The Israeli military later confirmed the strike on the petrochemical plant.
In Saudi Arabia, missile alert sirens were activated in an area housing a base with U.S. forces shortly after the Israeli strikes on Iran, although officials later stated that the missile threat had passed.
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Associated Press writers Matthew Lee in Washington; Michelle L. Price in Bridgewater, New Jersey; Elena Becatoros in Athens, Greece; and Samy Magdy in Cairo contributed to this report.
