US President Donald Trump has stated that Israel and Iran must immediately stop “shooting.”
Trump’s social media post which tells Israel and Iran to stop “shooting,” comes after the countries attacked each other’s territory for the first time since the April ceasefire.
Israel carried out air strikes in western and central Iran. It said that “dozens” of its fighter jets “completed” strikes on Iranian defence systems.
The Israeli attacks followed after Iran fired missiles at northern Israel. The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said it has targeted two Israeli air bases in Nevatim and Tel Nof, according to Iranian state media.
The Islamic Republic News Agency reports the IRGC as saying that the operation was carried out in response to missiles Israel had fired “against several radar sites in three locations” in Iran. Earlier, Iranian state TV said explosions were heard in the three cities of Tehran, Tabriz and Isfahan after Israel said its air force had struck military targets in the country.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said, “this operation is not a passing event, but rather the beginning of a full week of continuous strikes.”
“Waves of missiles and drones will continue to be launched around the clock for the next seven days until the enemy is deterred and ceases its crimes. Any targeting of Iranian territory will be met with a devastating and overwhelming response beyond all expectation.”
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)
Iran launched its attacks after Israel carried out air strikes on Beirut in Lebanon on Sunday. Israel hit southern Beirut in the first attack on the Lebanese capital since a truce brokered by the US last week.
Lebanon’s health ministry said that two air strikes on two apartment buildings in a stronghold of Iran-backed Hezbollah killed two people and injured at least 20, including women and children.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had struck “terrorist headquarters in the Dahieh district of Beirut, in response to Hezbollah’s firing at Israeli territory”. Hezbollah has since confirmed it fired at Israeli military positions. Following that attack on Beirut, the IDF said it was “preparing for potential fire” towards Israel in the coming hours.
Iran had accused Israel of violating the ceasefire by attacking Hezbollah in the southern suburbs of Beirut, where at least two people were reportedly killed. Israel’s military had launched strikes there in retaliation for Iran-backed Hezbollah firing rockets at northern Israel.
Washington has been pressing Israel to hold off on its attacks in Lebanon to allow room for a regional deal with Iran. Israel has sought to separate the two military fronts. However, in another sign of the widening escalation, a missile was also launched at Israel this morning from Yemen, where the Iran-backed Houthis are based.
Prior to Israel’s retaliatory strikes, US President Donald Trump told several US and international media outlets that he was urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to retaliate against Iran’s attack.
In a later social media post, President Donald Trump asserted that Israel and Iran are “looking to do an immediate ceasefire.”
Trump said in the post that final negotiations on “peace” are proceeding but are “subject to ignorance or stupidity getting in its way.”
“Both sides, Israel and Iran, are looking to do an immediate CEASEFIRE! The Blockade will remain in place, and in full force and effect, until a ‘Final Deal’ is reached. Things should move quickly.”
Donald Trump
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