The Israeli military said its air force hit military sites linked to Iran’s missile and drone capabilities. Explosions were reported in Tehran, Isfahan and Tabriz, while authorities in Iran suspended flights at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport and imposed restrictions on parts of the country’s airspace. The attacks followed overnight alerts across Israel as air defence systems responded to incoming projectiles from Iran.
Iran’s missile and drone barrage came after an Israeli strike on Hezbollah-linked targets in Beirut’s southern suburbs, a move that had already strained a fragile ceasefire framework involving Lebanon and Israel. Tehran framed its action as retaliation for the Beirut attack, while Israel described its operation inside Iran as a response to direct fire on its territory. The exchange marked one of the sharpest escalations since the April ceasefire that had briefly lowered the tempo of direct Israel-Iran hostilities.
Air-raid sirens sounded in parts of Israel overnight as missiles were detected from Iran. Israeli defence systems intercepted several incoming projectiles, though the scale of damage from the barrage was still being assessed. Military officials said the latest Iranian attack involved multiple waves, including drones and missiles, aimed at Israeli targets. No immediate mass-casualty figures were confirmed by Israeli authorities.
Iranian state media reported blasts in several cities but gave limited detail on the targets hit. The reported locations included areas that have previously hosted military, aerospace and missile-related infrastructure. Iran’s authorities moved quickly to restrict aviation activity, a sign of concern over possible further strikes or the risk posed to civilian aircraft during military operations.
The confrontation has revived fears of a broader regional conflict involving Iran-backed groups in Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq and Syria. Hezbollah’s role remains central to the crisis, with Israel continuing to target what it calls militant infrastructure across Lebanon despite ceasefire understandings. Iran has warned that any further Israeli action could invite a wider response, including threats directed at US-linked military facilities in the region.
Washington has urged restraint while trying to keep diplomatic efforts with Tehran from collapsing. President Donald Trump has pressed Israel to avoid steps that could derail talks with Iran, but Israel has signalled that it will continue to strike when it believes its security is threatened. The United States has said it did not take part in the Israeli strikes inside Iran, while maintaining support for Israel’s right to defend itself.
The latest exchange also added pressure to global energy markets. Oil prices moved higher as traders weighed the risk of disruption across the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for crude shipments. Any sustained escalation involving Iran carries implications for shipping, aviation, insurance costs and fuel prices, particularly for economies heavily dependent on Gulf energy flows.
Regional governments are watching the airspace dimension closely. During earlier phases of the conflict, missile and drone launches triggered temporary closures and diversions across parts of the Middle East. The suspension of operations at Tehran’s main international airport underlined the immediate civilian impact of the military exchange, with airlines likely to reassess flight paths over Iran, Iraq and neighbouring corridors.
Israel’s latest strikes appear designed to degrade Iran’s capacity to launch follow-on attacks rather than hit energy assets, though the limited public detail leaves room for uncertainty. Military analysts have long viewed western Iran as central to missile launch routes towards Israel, while central Iran hosts important defence and aerospace facilities. Strikes on those areas are likely to be read in Tehran as a direct challenge to its deterrence posture.
Iran’s leadership faces pressure to respond without triggering a conflict that could draw in the United States or destabilise its own economy. Israel, meanwhile, is balancing domestic demands for a firm response with pressure from Washington and regional partners to prevent a wider war. Both governments have framed their actions as defensive, but each round of retaliation narrows the space for diplomatic de-escalation.
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