Israel and Iran Exchange New Attacks, Shattering Hopes for Lasting Ceasefire - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency

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Iran Announces Pause in Strikes on Israel Iran’s military joint command has announced a “suspension” of attacks on Israel, signaling a potential pause in hostilities after a renewed cycle of missile strikes and air raids between the two countries The fragile ceasefire that had largely held between Israel and Iran since April came under renewed strain after both countries exchanged military strikes, raising fears that the Middle East could once again slide into a broader regional conflict. Israel launched a series of airstrikes early Monday against targets in central and western Iran, hours after Tehran fired missiles at Israeli territory in what Iranian officials described as retaliation for Israeli attacks on Beirut's southern suburbs. The latest exchange marked the most serious escalation between the two countries since the ceasefire was announced in the spring. According to the Israeli military, its air force targeted military sites associated with the Iranian government. “A short while ago, the Israeli Air Force struck military targets belonging to the Iranian terror regime in western and central Iran,” the Israel Defense Forces said in a brief statement issued as the operation began. Israeli officials initially provided few details regarding the specific targets or the scale of the attack. However, Iranian media soon reported explosions in several major cities, including Tehran, Isfahan, Tabriz, and Karaj. Residents in the Iranian capital described hearing powerful blasts west of the city. State television confirmed that explosions had been heard in multiple locations but did not immediately provide information regarding casualties or damage. In response to the strikes, Iranian authorities temporarily closed the airspace around Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport, the country's primary international gateway. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated that Israel had used air-launched ballistic missiles during the operation, although it did not elaborate on the claim. The attacks followed a tense weekend in which Iran launched missiles at Israel for the first time since the April truce. Tehran characterized the barrage as a warning and said it was responding to Israeli military action in Lebanon. Iran's Revolutionary Guard later announced that it had targeted Israel's Ramat David Air Base near Nazareth. Israeli authorities said the incoming missiles were detected and intercepted by air defense systems. As additional alerts sounded across Israel, the military warned residents to seek shelter after identifying another wave of missiles launched from Iranian territory. “Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat,” the military said while air raid warnings were activated in several parts of the country. An Agence France-Presse journalist reported hearing explosions over Jerusalem as interception efforts took place. Despite the alerts, Israeli emergency services said there were no immediate reports of casualties or direct impacts from the missile launches. The Israeli military subsequently announced that a second barrage had also been intercepted successfully and later issued an all-clear notice. The growing confrontation has led Israeli authorities to impose new restrictions on civilian life. Officials canceled classes nationwide and limited large public gatherings as a precautionary measure. It was the first nationwide school closure in Israel since the previous phase of direct fighting with Iran earlier in the year. Educational institutions near Israel's northern border had already experienced prolonged closures because of the ongoing threat posed by Hezbollah rocket fire. The latest escalation has also widened geographically. The Israeli military reported that a missile was launched from Yemen toward Israeli territory. The projectile was believed to have been fired by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement, which entered the conflict in March and has repeatedly targeted Israel since then. “The IDF has identified the launch of a missile from Yemen toward Israeli territory. Aerial defense systems are operating to intercept the threat,” the military announced. The Houthis have also conducted attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and have portrayed their actions as support for Iran and opposition to Israeli military operations in the region. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia briefly issued a security warning in the Al-Kharj governorate, an area that hosts Prince Sultan Air Base, where American forces are stationed. Civil defense authorities later announced that “the danger has passed,” without providing additional details regarding the cause of the alert. Alongside the military confrontation, tensions continue to center on the strategic Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important energy corridors. Iran's ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali, said the waterway would remain open but under revised conditions negotiated between Iran and Oman. “Of course, this strait will be open, but with new conditions to be determined by the Iranian and Omani authorities,” Jalali said. He added that ships using the route would likely face service charges. “We understand that Iran and Oman provide certain services related to this strait. Fees will be charged for those services.” Iran has repeatedly argued that any long-term settlement should recognize its right to collect transit fees from vessels crossing the strategic passage. The proposed charges would reportedly vary according to vessel type, cargo, and prevailing security conditions. The proposal has been strongly opposed by Washington. President Donald Trump has rejected any effort to impose tolls on international shipping through the strait, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Omani officials had assured the United States that no such plans were currently being implemented. The importance of the Strait of Hormuz has become even more pronounced during the conflict. Roughly one-fifth of global oil and natural gas shipments normally pass through the route, and military tensions have significantly disrupted energy flows. Although some tankers have recently managed to leave the Persian Gulf, oil and liquefied natural gas exports remain heavily constrained. Financial markets reacted sharply to the renewed hostilities. Asian stock indexes recorded steep losses as investors assessed the possibility of a broader regional war and its impact on global energy supplies. Japan's Nikkei 225 fell more than 3 percent, while South Korea's Kospi dropped nearly 7 percent during early trading. Oil prices moved sharply higher. Brent crude rose to more than USD95 per barrel, while U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate climbed above USD92. Diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation continue, although the outlook remains uncertain. British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper urged both sides to avoid actions that could deepen the conflict. “The resumption of conflict between Iran and Israel is in no one's interest. Both sides must show restraint and de-escalate immediately,” she wrote on social media. Cooper stressed that diplomacy remained essential. “Negotiations must continue towards the lasting settlement that we all need, for peace and stability in the region, and for the full restoration of global trade.” The White House did not immediately comment on Israel's latest strikes or whether the operation had been coordinated with Washington. Earlier, U.S. officials disclosed that President Trump had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and urged him not to retaliate immediately following Iran's missile launches. The conversation reportedly lasted around half an hour. Despite those appeals, Israel proceeded with military action after its leadership concluded that Iran's attacks represented a serious violation of the ceasefire. Israeli Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir had signaled the military's readiness before the strikes took place. “The IDF will strike the enemy with force as soon as the green light is given,” he said during a military assessment. At the same time, Iran continued military operations beyond its confrontation with Israel. State media reported that the Revolutionary Guard launched strikes against what it described as terrorist organizations in Iraq's Kurdistan region, targeting facilities near Sulaymaniyah. Iran has repeatedly accused Kurdish armed groups based in northern Iraq of working against Iranian interests and serving foreign powers. Several of those groups had previously evacuated positions following earlier rounds of Iranian attacks. As both sides continue exchanging strikes, concerns are growing that the conflict could expand beyond the current theater and further destabilize an already volatile region. With ceasefire arrangements increasingly fragile, international mediators face mounting pressure to prevent the latest escalation from developing into a wider war. 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