Israel struck Iran on Monday after being targeted by missiles, while a U. S. military base in Saudi Arabia came under fire in the most serious exchange of hostilities since an April ceasefire, raising the possibility of a return to heavy fighting and complicating mediation efforts to end the war.
Iranian state television reported the sound of explosions being heard in Isfahan, Tabriz and Tehran, without immediately elaborating. Earlier, Iran had launched missiles at Israel in the first such bombardment since a fragile ceasefire took effect in early April, raising the possibility of a return to heavy fighting and complicating mediation efforts to end the war.
Tehran had warned of retaliation after Israel struck Beirut’s southern suburbs without warning earlier Sunday in defiance of Washington’s request days ago to stand down. Israel said the Iranian-backed Hezbollah fired at northern Israel earlier in the day.
Saudi Arabia sounded missile alert sirens Monday morning in an area home to an air base that hosts U.S. forces.
The Israeli strikes came in apparent defiance to President Donald Trump who urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he doesn’t think Israel needs to respond further.
Speaking to The Financial Times, U.S. President Donald Trump before the Israeli strike on Iran insisted he dictated terms to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on how the war should be prosecuted.
“He won’t have any choice,” Trump told the newspaper in a telephone interview. “I call the shots. I call all the shots. He (Netanyahu) doesn’t call the shots.”
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Israel says missile launched from Yemen
Israel said Monday that it detected a missile launched from Yemen targeting the country. Sirens sounded across Israel after the Yemen missile fire warning.
Yemen is home to the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. The Houthis have fired missiles at Israel during the Israel-Hamas war and later, but haven’t been fully involved in the Iran war.
Saudi Arabia sounds missile alerts
Saudi Arabia sounded missile alert sirens Monday morning in an area home to an air base that hosts U.S. forces. Saudi state media reported the alert around its Al Kharj governorate, home to Prince Sultan Air Base.
It did not elaborate. The alert came after Israel launched strikes targeting Iran.
President Donald Trump had urged Israel not to respond
Speaking to The Financial Times, U.S. President Donald Trump before the Israeli strike on Iran insisted he dictated terms to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on how the war should be prosecuted.
“He won’t have any choice,” Trump told the newspaper in a telephone interview. “I call the shots. I call all the shots. He (Netanyahu) doesn’t call the shots.”
White House has no immediate comment
The White House did not respond to messages Sunday about the strikes and whether they were done in coordination with the U.S.
Iran closes airspace around its main airport following Israeli strikes
Iran closes airspace around Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport, country’s main airfield, after Israeli attack.
Israel strikes central and Western Iran
Israel says it strikes central and Western Iran after missile fire; Tehran says explosions heard in several cities