Israel strikes targets in Iran after missile fire

The Israel Defense Forces struck military targets in western and central Iran early Monday after the Islamic Republic launched ballistic missile barrages at the Jewish state overnight.

The military said the Israeli Air Force, guided by Military Intelligence, carried out strikes on military targets belonging to the Iranian regime.

IAF fighter jets “completed a large-scale strike on strategic defense systems,” according to a statement.

“Recently, defense systems were deployed in numerous areas across Iran as part of the regime’s efforts to restore its detection and defense capabilities, which were degraded during ‘Operation Roaring Lion.’ The strike led to the dismantling of these systems,” it said.

Monday’s strikes “further enhance the Israeli Air Force’s freedom of action in Iranian airspace,” the military added.

The IDF said its air force struck several infrastructure sites at the petrochemical complex in Mahshahr, southwestern Iran.

“These facilities were used by the armed forces of the Iranian terror regime to produce and export raw materials for weapons production,” the IDF said. “The targeted infrastructure produced unique materials that serve as essential components in the development of ballistic missiles, which pose a threat to the State of Israel and its civilians.”

The IDF said the strikes follow a series of previous attacks on the complex during “Operation Roaring Lion.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Security Cabinet convened on Monday morning to discuss the escalation.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and senior military commanders conducted ongoing operational assessments over the past several hours and were directing the strikes on Iran from the Israeli Air Force command bunker, according to the Israeli military.

“The IDF is alert and prepared to continue operating in all arenas against those who threaten the State of Israel,” the military said. “The IDF is at full readiness in both offense and defense.”

Air-raid sirens sounded repeatedly across northern Israel and Samaria on Sunday night and Monday morning as Iranian missiles targeted the country, from the north to the south, including Jerusalem. According to the IDF, most of the projectiles were intercepted and no casualties were reported.

The Health Ministry said that since the beginning of the special situation on the home front, as of Monday at 11 a.m., 44 people have been evacuated to hospitals, with one person currently hospitalized in satisfactory condition.

A missile impact in Samaria damaged three homes, though no injuries were reported, according to initial assessments by emergency responders.

Iran launched additional volleys around 9:30 a.m. on Monday, triggering air-raid sirens in the country’s north, as well as in Tel Aviv and central Israel, including Samaria. There were no immediate reports of missile impacts of injuries in the aerial assaults.

The military said multiple missiles were launched from Iran toward the State of Israel on Monday, prompting air-defense systems to engage the incoming threats. It said the Home Front Command had issued advance warnings directly to mobile phones in affected areas before air-raid sirens sounded.

Residents across Israel were instructed to enter protected spaces upon receiving alerts and remain there until further notice.

“The public is requested to act responsibly and follow the instructions—they save lives,” the IDF said.

Separately, the military said it detected a missile launch from the Houthis in Yemen toward Israel early on Monday. Air-defense systems intercepted the threat and the Home Front Command later informed residents that they could leave protected spaces, the IDF said.

Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter said Iran launched 11 ballistic missiles at Israel on Sunday.

“Each of these missiles can destroy an entire neighborhood and kill hundreds,” Leiter wrote on X. “No self-respecting country in the world would tolerate such an attack, and neither will Israel.”

According to Leiter, Israel was targeting Iranian surface-to-surface missile launch sites as well as infrastructure facilities unrelated to the energy sector.

Leiter also warned Hezbollah against joining the fighting, noting that Lebanon has rejected Iranian influence and seeks freedom from the Iranian-backed terrorist organization.

“If Hezbollah fires at Israel, its command centers in Dahiyeh will be hit hard,” he wrote. “Everyone is fed up with this insane Iranian regime.”

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee wrote on Monday morning that the “mothership of Satan is in Tehran,” as embassy personnel were rushed to bomb shelters.

“Iran fired missiles at Israel last night & early today. The missile alerts sounded at 6am in Jerusalem. They were intercepted thank God!” the envoy wrote on X.

“Iran & its proxy agents of evil want to incinerate America & Israel,” added Huckabee.

In another post, the ambassador said he heard “loud booms overhead,” adding, “Hopefully it’s the interception. Another day we live under threat of crazed Iranian regime.”

The latest escalation marked the first direct Iranian missile attack on Israel since a ceasefire took effect on April 8. Israeli officials have said that the truce was effectively violated by continued Hezbollah rocket and drone attacks from Lebanon, which Jerusalem says were carried out at the direction of Tehran.

The flare-up followed reports of U.S. efforts to prevent further military escalation between Israel and Iran, including a phone call from President Donald Trump urging Netanyahu not to respond to new Iranian missile attacks on Israel.

Nevertheless, an Israeli official said the Israeli attack on Iran had been coordinated with the United States. “We’re at the beginning of several days of fighting against Iran and its proxies across the Middle East,” the official told Channel 14 News.

In Israel, schools were closed nationwide on Monday, while public transportation was expected to operate at approximately 75% capacity. Ben-Gurion International Airport remained open, with Israel Airports Authority’s live arrivals and departures boards active.