Israel retaliates against Iranian missile strikes launched in response to Israeli attack on Beirut
A projectile streaks through the sky over central Israel during an Iranian missile attack. (AP: Ohad Zwigenberg)
In short:
Explosions have been reported in three Iranian cities and the Israeli military has confirmed it launched strikes against Iran.
Earlier multiple waves of Iranian missiles have been launched towards Israel, the Israeli military says, for the first time since a ceasefire was announced in April.
It comes after Israel launched an attack on a Hezbollah stronghold in southern Beirut, which it said was in retaliation for the Iranian-backed group firing at northern Israel earlier.
Israel has launched air strikes targeting central and western Iran in response to missile fire.
The Associated Press reported the sound of explosions being heard in Isfahan, Tabriz and Tehran, citing Iranian state media.
Iran closed the airspace around Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport, the country's main airfield, after the Israeli attack.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) later confirmed the attack on its telegram page.
"A short while ago, the Israeli Air Force struck military targets belonging to the Iranian terror regime in western and central Iran," the IDF wrote.
The strikes on Iran come hours after hundreds gathered in Tehran to rally against the US and Israel. (Reuters: WANA/Majid Asgaripour)
Earlier today the Israeli military said it had detected three waves of Iranian missiles launched at the north of the country, in the first attack on Israel since a ceasefire was announced in early April.
Warning sirens rang out in communities across northern Israel, in response to the threat, but the Israeli military said its air defences had successfully intercepted all of the missiles.
Iran's state broadcaster confirmed the missile launches and quoted the armed forces as saying: "If Israel responds to Iranian attacks or does not stop its attacks on Lebanon, Iranian attacks will continue."
The White House confirmed to the ABC that US President Donald Trump had been briefed on the strikes.
In response to the launches, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reiterated calls for a de-escalation.
"This needs to conclude. This is having a devastating impact on the global economy, not least here in Australia," Mr Albanese said.
"We've called for a de-escalation, we've called for a clear exit plan out of this and we've done that consistently and over a long period of time."
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Iran made a "grave mistake" by firing missiles at Israel.
IDF spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said Israel was prepared for the possibility of further Iranian missile attacks in the coming hours.
He insisted the Israeli military would continue to operate throughout Lebanon, regardless of Iran's intervention.
Earlier on Sunday, local time, Israel had launched an attack on the Hezbollah stronghold suburb of Dahiyeh in southern Beirut.
Israeli air strikes hit buildings in Dahiyeh, in Beirut's south, killing at least two people. (AP: Hassan Ammar)
A senior Iranian politician had taken to social media to warn of retaliation after that strike, and the regime in Tehran has been demanding an end to the fighting in Lebanon as part of any deal with the US to end the broader Middle East war.
During the barrage, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted an image on social media of the Iranian and Lebanese flags side by side.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Sunday, local time, the Israeli army must stop its attacks on Lebanon, and if it expanded its attacks or responded to Iran's actions, it would face "more crushing and regretful blows".
"We had previously warned that if the crimes in the Dahieh area of Beirut expand, we will attack targets in the occupied territories," IRGC top joint military command said.
The Israeli attack on Beirut on Sunday was in retaliation for another weekend of Hezbollah rocket and drone launches at Israeli soldiers in territory seized during its invasion of southern Lebanon earlier this year.
The Iranian-backed militant group, considered a terrorist organisation under Australian law, had also directed attacks towards communities along Israel's northern border.
Israel's decision to strike Dahiyeh came a few days after the Lebanese and Israeli governments agreed to a renewed ceasefire in US-hosted talks, though Hezbollah rejected the deal and was not party to the negotiations.
The strike on a residential building killed at least two people and wounded 20, Lebanon's health ministry said.
A week ago, Mr Trump had seemingly convinced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pull back from attacks against Hezbollah in Beirut in an expletive-laden phone call, where he labelled the Israeli leader as "f*****g crazy".
Iran had warned that an attack on Beirut would renew full-scale war across the Middle East, even as mediator Pakistan tried to restart talks between Tehran and Washington.
US news outlet Axios is reporting that Mr Trump will call Mr Netanyahu and tell him not to retaliate.
Israeli media outlets have reported that Israel is preparing to attack Iran in response to the barrages.
Responding to the latest strikes on Israel, Mr Trump said to a Fox News reporter: "What I would suggest to Iran — you've shot your missiles, that's enough.
"Get back to the table and make a deal," he said, according to Fox News.
On Israel striking Beirut earlier on Sunday, Mr Trump said: "I'm not happy about it."