Iran Announces Halt to Missile Launches Toward Israel
Iran’s military announced Monday that it is halting its missile launches toward Israel, after roughly a day of renewed fire that included ballistic missile attacks on northern and central Israel.
Iran’s military announced Monday that it is halting its missile launches toward Israel, after roughly a day of renewed fire that included ballistic missile attacks on northern and central Israel.
The announcement raised the possibility of a return to the ceasefire, but Tehran also issued a warning that any further Israeli action, including in southern Lebanon, could trigger a stronger response.
“Following the crimes and disturbances of the cruel Zionist regime in southern Lebanon and in the Dahieh area, supported by criminal America, the powerful armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in support of the oppressed people of Lebanon, gave this regime a painful response,” the Iranian military said.
The statement continued: “This is a response from which the fake Zionist regime and its supporters must learn a lesson.”
Iran then announced “the cessation of the operations of the armed forces,” but stressed that the halt was conditional.
“We emphasize that in the event of continued crimes and disturbances, including in southern Lebanon, more severe and powerful actions than before will be taken,” the statement said.
Since Sunday evening, around 30 ballistic missiles were launched from Iran toward Israel. The fire initially targeted northern Israel Sunday night and Monday morning, before later expanding toward central Israel. At the same time, the Houthis in Yemen launched two missiles toward Israel, both of which were intercepted by air defense systems.
The Iranian announcement came shortly after US President Donald Trump said that both Israel and Iran were seeking an immediate ceasefire.
“Both sides, Israel and Iran, are asking to reach an immediate ceasefire,” Trump wrote, adding that final contacts toward what he called “peace” were advancing, provided that “ignorance or stupidity” did not interfere.
Trump also said the blockade would remain in full force until a final agreement is reached, and that developments were expected to move quickly.
Israel is now weighing its next steps after a day of Iranian fire, Israeli strikes inside Iran, Houthi threats in the Red Sea and intense American pressure to prevent the renewed fighting from expanding into a broader regional war.