Israel accused Iran of committing a “grave mistake” on Sunday after coming under several waves of missile fire, marking the first direct Iranian attack since a regional truce was announced on April 8.
The Israeli military said it detected multiple missile launches from Iran and intercepted all of them. Responding to requests for details, the military said a total of 11 missiles had been fired.
Air raid sirens sounded across large parts of northern and central Israel, including Haifa, Caesarea and Hadera. Israel’s emergency service Magen David Adom said there were no reports of direct casualties from the missiles, although several people were injured while rushing to shelters.
Military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said: “The Iranian terrorist regime has made a grave mistake by once again choosing the path of terror.”
Following the attack, Israeli military chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir vowed a strong response, saying the military would “strike the enemy with force as soon as the green light is given”, according to the military.
Tehran said the missile launches were intended as a warning after an Israeli air strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs earlier in the day. Iran warned that any further aggression would trigger a broader response against US and Israeli targets across the region.
Israel said the strike in Beirut targeted a Hezbollah command centre. Defrin said: “We struck in Dahiyeh in response to Hezbollah’s relentless attacks on the communities of northern Israel.”
He added: “The IDF will continue to operate throughout Lebanon and will intensify its actions against the Hezbollah terrorist organisation.”
Amid heightened security concerns, Israel’s Education Ministry and the military’s Home Front Command announced that all schools across the country would remain closed on Monday.
The latest exchange marked a significant escalation in the conflict, which entered its 100th day on Sunday.