Iran and Israel announced on Monday that they had ceased attacks on each other following an appeal from US President Donald Trump to immediately stop shooting. However, Tehran cautioned that it would resume strikes if Israel continued its operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Direct Confrontation Threatens Ceasefire
The wave of attacks over 24 hours marked the most direct confrontation between Iran and Israel since a ceasefire in April, jeopardizing Washington's efforts to negotiate an agreement with Tehran to end their more than three-month-old conflict. Oil prices, which had surged by up to 5% after the flurry of attacks, pared gains when Iran's military announced its first wave of strikes on Israel was over. The dollar also retreated from its highest level in nearly two months.
Israel Halts Attacks
A source briefed on the matter confirmed that Israel had also decided to halt its attacks on Iran. The escalation began when Tehran fired missiles toward Israeli territory late Sunday, calling them retaliation for Israeli strikes on strongholds of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia on the outskirts of Beirut. In response, Israel targeted a petrochemical plant in southwest Iran, which it claimed was used to produce ballistic missiles. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) retaliated with a strike aimed at a similar Israeli plant in the city of Haifa.
Iran's Warning
Iran's military stated it had delivered a painful response against Israel for its attacks on Lebanon. The statement read: Accordingly, the operations of the armed forces are hereby declared halted; however, it is emphasized that if the aggressions and acts of mischief continue — including in southern Lebanon — much more severe and crushing actions than before will follow.
Continued Tensions
Hours after Iran's announcement, sirens sounded in the Zar'it area of northern Israel when a projectile was identified as falling in an area of southern Lebanon. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that Israel would strike Hezbollah's Dahiyeh stronghold in southern Beirut once more if there were attacks on northern Israel. An Israeli official confirmed that Trump had spoken with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday. Earlier, an Israeli military official stated that Israel was prepared to continue operations for as long as it takes.
Iranian officials struck a similarly defiant tone. A military source indicated that Tehran was ready for a prolonged conflict and could renew strikes against US interests in the region.
