On the night from Sunday to Monday, the region experienced an unprecedented escalation of tensions. Israel and Iran exchanged direct strikes for the first time since April, violating the ceasefire regime that had been maintained since the signing of the agreement between the US, Tehran, and Tel Aviv.

Start of Escalation: Strike on Beirut

The chain of events leading to open military confrontation began on the evening of June 7. The Israeli Air Force carried out airstrikes on the Dahiyeh district — a southern suburb of Beirut. The target of the attack was the positions of the "Hezbollah" group, which, according to intelligence data, receives support from Iran.

This became the third strike on the Lebanese capital since the April ceasefire came into force. Washington's reaction to its ally's actions was immediate and harsh. US President Donald Trump publicly stated that the attack was not coordinated with the White House administration and expressed his deep dissatisfaction with the situation.

Iran's Response and Regional Reaction

In response to the Israeli operation, Iran struck Israeli territory. Late in the evening, Tehran launched at least three waves of ballistic missiles — the first since April. According to the Israeli army, the air defense system intercepted all about 10 missiles. No direct casualties from the impacts were recorded, although several people were injured in the panic while moving to shelters.

The escalation forced neighboring countries to take emergency measures:

  • Iraq and Syria closed their airspace to flights.
  • In Jordan, over which the missiles flew, air raid alerts were declared.
  • The US closed its embassy in Tel Aviv and ordered all staff to remain in shelters.
  • Schools in Israel were closed on Monday for safety reasons.

Diplomatic Pressure and Rejection of Restraint

After the start of the missile attack, Trump personally contacted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The head of the White House strongly urged restraint, arguing that it was necessary to save negotiations with Iran, which, according to him, were close to completion.

Earlier that same day, in an interview with Financial Times, Trump stated that Netanyahu "does not make decisions" and "will have no choice," obliging him to accept any agreement that the US concludes with Iran. On Fox News, the US President called on Tehran: "You launched missiles — that's enough. Return to the negotiating table".

However, Israel ignored Washington's request for restraint.

Second Round: Strikes on Iranian Territory

Early in the morning on June 8, the Israeli army launched retaliatory strikes on missile launchers and military infrastructure facilities in western and central Iran. Explosions were heard in Tehran, Tabriz, and Isfahan. According to local Iranian media, no civilian casualties were recorded.

The situation remains tense. On Monday morning, the Israeli army reported a new wave of Iranian missiles heading towards the country, indicating the continuation of the cycle of mutual strikes.