Israel strikes Iran military targets after Iranian missile attack
· Axios
The Israeli Air Force conducted strikes on military targets in central and Western Iran on Monday morning local time, Israel Defense Forces said in a statement.
Why it matters: The strikes, in retaliation for an Iranian missile attack against Israel, mark a new phase in a growing escalation that started on Sunday morning. This is the first time Israel has struck Iran since the April 8 ceasefire.
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- Iran had threatened to expand its attacks and target U.S. bases in the region if Israel retaliated.
- Further exchanges of fire could unravel the negotiations between the U.S. and Iran and lead to the resumption of the war.
- President Trump told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu several hours before the strikes to stand down and refrain from retaliating.
Between the lines: A U.S. defense official said the U.S. military was not involved in the Israeli strikes on Iran.
- The official said the Israeli strikes were "relatively limited" in their scope.
State of play: Explosions were heard in the Iranian cities of Tehran, Karaj, Isfahan, Tabriz and Kermanshah, according to Iranian state media.
- Iran closed its airspace around Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport following the strikes.
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Editor's note: This article has been updated with comment from a U.S. official and details of Iran closing airspace.