TEHRAN, June 8 (V7N) – Israel and Iran exchanged attacks on Monday for the first time since a ceasefire in the Middle East war took effect two months ago, despite US President Donald Trump calling for restraint. The flare-up saw Israel striking Iran after the Islamic republic targeted it in vengeance for an airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs, where its proxy Hezbollah holds sway. No casualties have been reported so far in either country.
The Israeli military said it struck and dismantled Iranian defence systems deployed across several areas in the country. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had struck Israel's Nevatim and Tel Nof air bases "in response to a missile attack launched by the Zionist regime." Meanwhile, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels announced a missile attack on Israel and declared a ban on Israeli shipping in the Red Sea, raising the specter of a return to major disruption on the key route.
Tehran blamed Washington for the resumption of fighting. Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said, "No one believes that the Zionist regime would carry out any action without prior coordination and cooperation with the United States. It is perfectly natural that the diplomatic process initiated to put an end to this imposed war would be affected." However, he added that diplomatic consultations are continuing in all circumstances.
Trump called for calm from both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Iranians, but Israel accused Tehran of making a "grave mistake." In an interview with the Financial Times, Trump said, "I call the shots. I call all the shots. He doesn't call the shots," referring to Netanyahu. The EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas urged both sides to "sit down to a negotiation table and agree," while China also called for restraint.
The attacks sent crude prices surging more than five percent as hopes dimmed on any imminent reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has blockaded. Iranians are feeling the strain of weeks of uncertainty, with a fitness trainer from Ahvaz telling AFP, "Everything is horrible. We only try to survive." Despite the resumption of fighting, Iran said diplomatic consultations continue with Pakistan to end the war with the US.
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