Israel launches attacks on Beirut – Iran responds with missiles on northern Israel

The attack came just hours after Israel and Lebanon had agreed to a new ceasefire, according to US sources. The day before, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz had announced the attacks, describing them as a response to Hezbollah fire on Israel. US President Donald Trump had previously announced a halt to Israeli attacks in the region and an end to Hezbollah attacks on Israel. Israel had also threatened that in the event of further Hezbollah attacks, it would strike the Beirut suburbs again and pressure residents to flee.

Iranian retaliatory strikes

Iran responded overnight with missiles on northern Israel. According to the Israeli army, at least ten missiles were fired at the country, with some sources speaking of a total of four identified missiles. The Iranian Revolutionary Guards described the attack as a warning following the latest Israeli airstrikes. In a statement broadcast by state radio, the Iranian armed forces justified the attack by citing "repeated violations" of the ceasefire in Lebanon by the Israeli army. Specifically, Iran was responding to new Israeli attacks on the suburbs of the Lebanese capital Beirut on Sunday, despite a ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump.

Israel's missile defense intercepted all projectiles, according to the military, and two Iranian drones were also shot down by the US military. No injuries or major damage were initially reported. Iran had previously warned that further Israeli attacks on the greater Beirut area would be regarded as a new escalation in the regional confrontation. In addition, Iran's chief negotiator had threatened retaliation after Israeli attacks on Lebanon, and an Iranian negotiator threatened attacks on US bases.

Israel's threats and military responses

Prime Minister Netanyahu said at the start of a cabinet meeting: "We will not allow Hezbollah to fire on our territory and our communities – and we will act accordingly." He also declared: "We are hitting them very hard, and we know that Hezbollah is on the run." An unnamed Israeli government official announced: "Iran can forget that we will accept this – the response will be harsh." They would not allow "them to create any new rules of the game and violate our sovereignty."

Israeli TV channel N12 and news portal ynet reported this, citing an unnamed Israeli government official. Following the Iranian attacks, Netanyahu held a security consultation with representatives of the military and intelligence services. Israeli army chief Samir threatened Iran with a harsh response as soon as the green light was given. The Israeli army had also killed 350 "terrorists" in Lebanon the previous week.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem rejected the agreement reached between the Lebanese government and Israel. Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran and was not involved in the negotiations, rejected the conditions. Shortly thereafter, new attacks followed. In Lebanon, fighting between Israel and the Hezbollah militia continues. Hezbollah is Iran's most important non-state ally.

Trump's mediation efforts

US President Trump urged Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to refrain from counterattacks on Iran. Instead, he called on both sides to return to the negotiating table in remarks to the US news magazine "Axios." Trump subsequently wanted to speak with Netanyahu by phone. Trump told Israeli journalist Barak Ravid that he would "call the prime minister immediately" and urge restraint. Trump also declared: "Both have had their shot — we don't need another." He was "not happy" about the Israeli airstrikes in Beirut. Trump also told Fox News that the Iranian attacks on northern Israel would "not help" negotiations with Tehran.

Trump said the US had been very close to a deal and had expected a signing within the same week. He also made clear that there would be no lifting of Iran sanctions without a peace agreement. Trump also tied the extension of the ceasefire to the opening of the Strait of Hormuz. However, negotiations between the US and Iran on a permanent end to the war have so far not produced an agreement.

Reactions from Lebanon

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun spoke of a flagrant violation of Lebanese sovereignty as well as international laws and norms. In a post on platform X, Aoun declared that the escalation was taking place despite Lebanon's efforts to bring the Israeli attacks to an end through negotiations without deterrence. The Lebanese army is not an active belligerent in the conflict between Israel and the Hezbollah militia and remains neutral. The Lebanese army leadership accused Israel of persistently attacking Lebanon and its population, with the aim of thwarting all efforts to restore stability, achieve a comprehensive ceasefire, and secure Israel's withdrawal from the occupied Lebanese territories.

In an Israeli attack on a military vehicle in southern Lebanon, two officers and one soldier were killed, according to the Lebanese army. The Israeli army confirmed the attack but disputed the Lebanese account. The vehicle had moved "suspiciously" toward Israeli soldiers and had been traveling in a previously evacuated combat zone, according to the Israeli army. Movements in such zones had to be coordinated with the Israeli army. In addition, according to the army, there was concrete evidence that Hezbollah intended to open fire on Israeli soldiers from this area. After the vehicle had been identified and given this assessment of the situation, the order to fire was given. The incident is under investigation.

On the previous Saturday, the Israeli army had called on all residents of five towns and villages in southern Lebanon to evacuate immediately. Army spokesman Avichay Adraee declared on X that residents should leave their homes immediately for their own safety and move north of the Sahrani River. The Sahrani River is about 30 kilometers long, rises in the Lebanon Mountains, and flows into the Mediterranean about seven kilometers south of the port city of Sidon. The army spokesman justified the evacuation order on X with violations of the ceasefire by the Lebanese Hezbollah militia. Avichay Adraee warned that anyone in the vicinity of Hezbollah fighters, their facilities, and weapons was endangering their life.

Impact on the region

Several Iranian missiles also entered Jordanian airspace, according to its government. In Iran's neighboring state Iraq and in Syria, airspace was initially closed. According to American information, Tehran also fired missiles at Kuwait and Bahrain in recent days; both Gulf states condemned the attacks as violations of their sovereignty. Most of the projectiles fired at Kuwait and Bahrain were intercepted.

The Iranian parliamentary committee spokesman for foreign policy, Ebrahim Rezaei, wrote on X: "Watch the sky over the occupied territories tonight" — an Iranian circumlocution for Israel. Jerusalem viewed the fire as a direct breach of the ceasefire. Iranian state media reported two missile salvos at Israel; the Israeli military spoke of identified missiles from Iran. Defense systems were in use to intercept the threat, the Israeli military said.

Israel's Home Front Command tightened security measures across the country, kept schools closed for the coming days, restricted gatherings, and urged the population to keep shelters accessible. The Home Front Command had sent a precautionary instruction directly to mobile phones in the affected areas. Classes in all Israeli schools were canceled for Monday, according to civil defense. Tel Aviv's international airport initially remained open, according to media reports.

Background: The Iran war and its consequences

The backdrop to the conflict is the war that Israel and the US began against Iran on February 28. Lebanon was drawn into the Iran war in early March 2026. Following the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Hezbollah has repeatedly fired missiles at Israel since then. Israel has attacked numerous targets in Lebanon with airstrikes and sent ground troops across the border. Most recently, Iran fired missiles at Israel on the night of April 8. On the same day, the US and Iran agreed on an initially two-week ceasefire, which was subsequently extended.

Since the war began at the end of February with US-Israeli attacks on Iran, Iran had blocked the strait off its coast that is important for global oil transport. Tanker passage virtually came to a standstill. Even after the start of a US naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, there had already been warnings of a resumption of Iranian attacks on Israel. As a result, energy prices rose sharply worldwide — which also put Trump under domestic political pressure. This news was broadcast on 08.06.2026 on the Deutschlandfunk program.