Iran launches missiles at Israel after Beirut strike, escalating Middle East tensions
via Punch Nigeria3 min read
Air raid sirens sounded in Israel as its military intercepted Iranian missiles, marking the first such attack since an April ceasefire. Iran's Revolutionary Guards described the attack as a "warning" following an Israeli strike on Beirut's southern suburbs. The April 8 ceasefire had paused major hostilities between Iran, Israel, and the United States, but efforts to achieve a lasting peace have stalled, with Sunday's events further dimming hopes as the Middle East conflict reached its 100th day. Tehran has maintained that any permanent peace deal must also address the conflict in Lebanon, where Israel is targeting Hezbollah, and had warned that new attacks on Beirut would lead to a "full-scale resumption" of hostilities. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed striking a militant command center in Beirut's Dahiyeh district in response to Hezbollah's fire. The raid resulted in two deaths and 20 injuries, according to Lebanon's health ministry. Hezbollah later confirmed launching missiles and drones at Israeli army barracks. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran's parliament speaker, accused the US of enabling the Beirut attack, stating that US and Israeli assets are now "legitimate targets." Following the missile launches, Iran, Iraq, and Syria closed their airspaces. The escalation comes amidst economic strain in Iran, with citizens expressing hardship due to rising prices. Diplomatic efforts are ongoing, with Pakistan's interior minister visiting Tehran to deli
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
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