Israel Strikes Iran After Missile Barrage

Israel launched airstrikes targeting central and western Iran early Monday, striking military and infrastructure sites including a petrochemical complex in Mahshahr, after Tehran fired a barrage of missiles at Israel in what marked the first such exchange since a fragile ceasefire took effect in April. Iranian state television reported explosions in Tehran, Isfahan, Karaj and Tabriz, while the Israeli military confirmed it had struck and dismantled strategic defense systems Iran had deployed to restore capabilities degraded during previous operations. Iran's Revolutionary Guards described the missile attack as a "warning" and threatened broader strikes against all US-Zionist targets in the region if aggression continued, while Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels announced their own missile attack on Israel and declared a ban on Israeli shipping in the Red Sea. The escalation came despite US President Donald Trump's efforts to contain the situation, with media reporting he urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to exercise restraint in a phone call Sunday night. Trump told Fox News that both sides had "their fun" and that further retaliation was unnecessary, though Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir wrote on social media that "Tehran must burn." The exchange threatened ongoing US-Iran negotiations aimed at extending the ceasefire and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, with Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei stating that the diplomatic process would be affected by the resumption of hostilities. Pakistan's army chief has been mediating between Washington and Tehran, while Qatar's prime minister held talks with Iran's foreign minister about containment efforts and regional security. Oil prices surged in response to the renewed hostilities, with Brent crude climbing to nearly $96 per barrel, approaching the $100 milestone as investors weighed supply risks. Iraq and Syria closed their airspace amid the heightened tensions, and the US Embassy in Jordan warned residents to seek shelter from missiles and drones in the country's airspace. China's foreign ministry expressed deep concern, urging all parties to fulfill ceasefire commitments, while EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas called for the parties to return to negotiations. Israel's emergency services reported no casualties from the Iranian missile barrages, though multiple waves of missiles were intercepted over Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Israeli media reported that Netanyahu would convene a security cabinet meeting to discuss further response options.