Iran launched missiles at Israel on Sunday, marking the first direct Iranian attack on Israeli territory since an April cease-fire between the two countries. The strikes came in retaliation for the killing of Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. There were no immediate reports of casualties from the Iranian missile fire.
The Iranian attack followed Israeli airstrikes on the Hezbollah-dominated southern suburbs of Beirut earlier that day. Israel struck three different locations in the southern part of Lebanon's capital in the early morning hours, with bombings continuing throughout the day. At least 31 people were killed and 149 injured in the Israeli strikes, according to Lebanon's health ministry.
Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group based in Lebanon, responded to Khamenei's killing by launching a barrage of missiles and drones at the Mishmar al-Karmel missile defense facility near Haifa. The group said its actions were in retaliation for Khamenei's death and in defense of Lebanon and its people.
Israel's military chief, Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, stated that Hezbollah had opened a campaign against Israel and bore full responsibility for any escalation. He vowed that any enemy threatening Israeli security would face a heavy price. Israeli forces announced the deployment of 100,000 reservists, with many positioned along the Lebanese border, though troops had not yet entered Lebanese territory.
The escalation extends beyond Lebanon. Iran continued attacking Gulf Arab states, with a drone striking an Aramco oil refinery in Saudi Arabia on Monday morning. Overnight, a drone hit a UK military base in Cyprus, marking the first time Iranian strikes have affected a European Union state.
Senior Iranian official Ali Larijani said Iran would continue targeting states in the region as long as they hosted US military bases used for staging attacks against Iran. He also stated that Iran would not negotiate with the United States.
The broader conflict represents what has been described as a US-Israeli war with Iran, now in its third day and expanded across much of the Middle East. US President Donald Trump gave mixed signals about potential resolution, initially telling the Atlantic he was ready to talk, but later hardening his position and vowing the fighting would continue until all objectives were achieved.
The escalation has caused widespread displacement in Lebanon. Residents fled southern Beirut and other affected areas as evacuation orders were issued for 55 villages and towns. Dozens of schools in the capital opened to shelter displaced families. Many Lebanese recalled the 13-month war between Israel and Hezbollah that ended in 2024, which killed nearly 4,000 people and displaced a million others.
Lebanon's government quickly condemned Hezbollah's decision to attack Israel without state consultation, with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam warning he would not allow the country to be pulled into new conflicts.