Israel Conducts Strikes on Iran Military Targets Following Iranian Missile Barrage
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an end to renewed fighting between Israel and Iran and for Israel to reopen closed Gaza crossings for aid. A brief exchange of strikes on Monday ended after U.S. intervention.
rediff.comIsrael struck military targets in Iran on Monday after Iran fired missiles at Israel, the first direct exchange between the two countries since a ceasefire took hold in April. Both sides halted the exchange shortly afterward.
According to source reporting, Iran launched the missile attack on Israel, which Tehran described as retaliation for earlier Israeli strikes on Lebanon's capital. Israel then conducted strikes on Iran military targets in response. The two sides called a halt to the exchange on Monday.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was "deeply alarmed" by the renewed escalation of violence in the Middle East. Guterres called for all parties to stop attacks immediately and said the ceasefires in Lebanon, Iran and Gaza must be fully respected.
Guterres also called on Israel to reopen crossings into Gaza that it has closed. He said the move is needed to allow rapid, safe, and unhindered passage of humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza.
A U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has been in place since October 2025 and includes guarantees of increased aid. Israeli strikes have killed more than 950 people since the truce began, according to health officials. Israel says four soldiers were killed by militants during the same period.
The exchange threatened to wreck Washington's efforts to reach an agreement with Tehran to end their more than 3-month-old war. Each side left open the possibility of resuming operations.
