Day 101 of Iran-Israel Conflict: Retaliatory Airstrikes Escalate
Sarah Shamim
Iran and Israel traded missile strikes on Monday, pushing the fragile ceasefire that had been in place since April 8 closer to collapse. The escalation came as the US-Israel war against Iran entered its 101st day, with explosions reported in Tehran, Isfahan, and Tabriz, while Israel struck military targets in western and central Iran.
Iran and Israel traded missile strikes on Monday, pushing the fragile ceasefire in place since April 8 closer to collapse than at any point in the past seven weeks.
The escalation unfolded as the US-Israel war against Iran entered its 101st day on Monday.
In Iran
Blasts in Iran: Iran’s IRNA news agency reported at least “two loud explosions” heard in Tehran and at least three blasts in the city of Isfahan. Explosions were also recorded in Tabriz. The Israeli military said it had “struck military targets” in western and central Iran.
Mahshahr power plant hit: A security official in Iran’s southwestern Khuzestan province told the Fars news agency that Israeli forces struck the Karun Petrochemical Company in the city of Mahshahr. The Israeli military confirmed it had targeted the petrochemical plant. The Mahshahr Petrochemical Special Economic Zone said workers had been evacuated from the site after the Israeli attack.
Iran denies striking Saudi base: Amid rumors of an explosion at the Al-Kharj airbase in Saudi Arabia, Iran’s IRIB state television quoted a military official as saying “Iran did not fire a single shot.”
Iran Red Crescent on alert: The Iranian Red Crescent Society said it was ready to respond to any consequences from Israel’s strikes earlier in the day.
In Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will convene a security cabinet meeting at 11 a.m. local time (08:00 GMT) amid rising tensions with Iran, according to multiple Israeli media reports.
The Israeli military had issued a series of warnings since Sunday about incoming missile launches from Iran targeting Israeli territory.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Monday that it launched missiles at Israel’s Nevatim and Tel Nof airbases in retaliation for strikes on radar stations inside Iran, according to the Fars news agency.
Israel’s Channel 12 and Ynet News reported that a missile fired from Yemen had been intercepted.
In the United States
The US State Department issued a security alert for American citizens in Jordan regarding reports of aerial objects in the country’s airspace — believed to be either Israeli missiles targeting Iran or Iranian missiles targeting Israel.
Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said Israel’s latest attack on Iran “increases the humiliation” for US President Donald Trump, as it followed reports that the president had asked Netanyahu not to retaliate against Iranian missiles that struck northern Israel.
In Lebanon
Blasts were heard in the Lebanese capital Beirut on Monday morning, but were likely missile interceptions, Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr reported from Beirut.
On Sunday, Israel struck Beirut’s southern suburbs, an attack that Iran described as crossing a red line in violating the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel. Iran subsequently said its decision to fire into northern Israel was in retaliation for strikes near Beirut.
War Diplomacy
Israel defends airstrikes in Iran: Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, defended the strikes on Iran, arguing that “no self-respecting country” could tolerate Iranian missile launches against Israel.
Canada expresses concern: Canada’s Foreign Ministry voiced concern over the resurgence of the Iran-Israel conflict, saying it threatens ongoing negotiations and “the prospects for peace.”
Saudi and Qatari foreign ministers discuss: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud spoke by phone with his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.
Qatar and Iran foreign ministers confer: Qatar’s Foreign Minister, who is also the country’s prime minister, spoke by phone with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi about mediation efforts between Iran and the United States, as well as the latest developments in Lebanon.
