The Israeli military has warned of a second barrage of missiles fired from Iran, shortly after it reported the first such salvo since a fragile ceasefire went into effect in April, AFP reported.
“An additional barrage of missiles was launched toward the State of Israel,” it said. “The aerial defense array is currently identifying and intercepting threats.”
The Israeli military vowed on Sunday to press ahead with its military campaign in Lebanon and said it would step up operations against Hezbollah.
“The (Iranian) regime is attempting to establish a new equation through direct attacks on Israeli territory in response to IDF operations in Dahiyeh,” military spokesman brigadier general Effie Defrin said, in a televised statement.
“We struck in Dahiyeh in response to Hezbollah’s relentless attacks on the communities of northern Israel. The IDF will continue to operate throughout Lebanon and will intensify its actions against the Hezbollah terrorist organisation.”
“The Iranian terrorist regime has made a grave mistake by once again choosing the path of terror,” Defrin said.
Barak Ravid, correspondent for Axios, said Trump told him during a phone call Sunday: “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.”
“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 added.
He also said: “I’m about to call Bibi right now and tell him not to respond. Both of them have already done their part. Israel had its strike and Iran had its strike. We don’t need another one.”
Iran closed the airspace over the west of the country on Sunday after launching a salvo of missiles towards Israel in response to its latest strike on Lebanon.
“Due to safety and security assessments... the western part of the country’s airspace was declared closed until further notice,” said Majid Akhavan, the spokesman for the National Civil Aviation Organisation, in a statement carried by the news agency IRNA.
The Syrian Civil Aviation Authority has announced a temporary closure of its airspace for 12 hours, suspending operations at Damascus International Airport amid escalating tensions between Iran and Israel.
Iraq has also temporarily closed its airspace and suspended air navigation, civil aviation officials told Al Jazeera.
Iran’s military central command said Sunday that Israel’s latest strike on the southern Beirut suburbs had “crossed all red lines”, demanding a halt to its campaign in Lebanon.
“The Israeli army must stop its attacks on southern Lebanon and the suburbs, and if it expands its attacks to that region or responds to Iran’s action, it will face more devastating and regrettable blows,” said general Ali Abdollahi, the head of the Khatam al-Anbiya command, without directly mentioning missile salvos that Israel said it was intercepting.
Trey Yingst, a correspondent for Fox News, says he spoke with Trump following the reports of Iranian missiles launched at Israel.
“What I would suggest to Iran: You’ve shot your missiles, that’s enough. Get back to the table and make a deal,” Trump said.
“It’s certainly not going to help negotiations,” Trump told Fox News when told about the incoming Iranian missiles
When asked about Israel striking Beirut earlier today, he replied: “I’m not happy about it.”
Mohsen Rezaei, the military adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, has posted on social media about the missiles launched towards Israel.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran had repeatedly declared that it would not tolerate violations of the ceasefire or aggression against Lebanon,” he wrote on X. “Tonight, the aggressors received their response. This response is a warning for them to cease their villainy; every new action will be met with a more crushing response and heavier costs.”
The Israel military says it has intercepted all missiles fired by Iran so far, multiple outlets are reporting.
Axios reported that Donald Trump has been briefed on the situation as Israel reports a second wave of missiles fired from Iran.
Barak Ravid, a correspondent for Axios, said in an X post that an Israeli official told him Israel plans to retaliate to the Iranian attack.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has said the Israeli military must stop its attacks on Lebanon and warned that if Israel escalates its offensives in Lebanon or responds to Iran’s actions, it will face “more crushing and regretful blows”, according to Reuters.
Source: Guardian - World News
