Iran has launched a new barrage of missiles at Israel, according to the Israeli Defense Forces. Iranian officials say the attack, the first such strike since the April 8 ceasefire, was in response to Israel bombing Beirut a few hours ago. With Israel under direct attack from Iran, how much longer the ceasefire will hold is an open question.
“A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel,” the IDF stated on Telegram. “Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat.”
Iran acknowledged launching missiles at Israel.
Videos emerged on social media showing Israeli air defenses working to intercept the missiles.
Additional video purported to show the Iranian missile launches.
Earlier on Sunday, Israel attacked what it said was a Hezbollah command center in the Dahieh section of Beirut. Israel claimed it was in response to Hezbollah rocket attacks on northern Israel.
There were no initial reports of injuries or damage. The IDF claims that all the missiles were intercepted.
Regardless, Israel will almost certainly launch a retaliatory strike. Israel is considering the Iranian attack a “declaration of war.”
Iran launched many ballistic missiles attacks on Israel after Washington and Jerusalem launched strikes across Iran starting on Feb. 28.
UPDATE: 4:34 PM EDT –
President Donald Trump spoke with several media outlets in the wake of the Iranian attack. He is urging restraint between the Israel and Iran.
He told Fox News that the attack wasn’t helping negotiations and said he would suggest to Iran that “you shot your missiles, that’s enough, get back to the table and make a deal.”
On Israel striking Beirut earlier today: “I’m not happy about it,” President Trump said.
The president told Axios reporter Barak Ravid that he was going to call Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and tell him to hold his fire.
“I’m about to call Bibi right now and tell him not to respond,” Trump told the outlet. “Both of them have already done their part. Israel had its strike and Iran had its strike. We don’t need another one.”
“The Iranian missile fire didn’t hit anyone. I hope Israel doesn’t respond. If Bibi attacks them back, it’ll just drag on like it has for the past 47 years, or the past 3,000 years,” Trump told Ravid. “We’re very close to a final deal with Iran. It’ll be a good deal. I don’t want it to blow up because of what’s happening now.”
Trump told Israel’s Channel 13 News that he thinks “Israel has responded enough, no need for more. We can achieve peace after 3,000 years.”
Iran has issued a notice that it has closed airspace.
The IDF said Iran made “a grave mistake” by attacking, said its operations against Hezbollah will continue and warned Israelis that more attacks could be launched.
Iranian media released an image it claims shows a message inscribed on the missiles fired at Israel.
UPDATE: 6:51 PM EDT –
Iran fired 11 missiles at Israel, according to Israel’s C14 News outlet.
Trump told Financial Times that Netanyahu will have no choice but to accept any deal the US negotiates with Iran, because he “calls the shots.”
“He won’t have any choice,” Trump told the outlet in a telephone interview. “I call the shots. I call all the shots. He [Netanyahu] doesn’t call the shots.”
Trump added that Iran’s strikes had not changed his desire to conclude US-Iran negotiations. “It’s not going to have any impact on the deal,” he told the FT.
“We’ll see how it ends up,” Trump continued. “But they [the missile strikes on Israel] were attacks that did not kick at all. It’s one of those things that’s been going for 3,000 years, or 47 years, depending on how you count.”
This is a developing story.
Contact the author: howard@twz.com