Iran fires missiles at Israel, triggering sirens across Haifa and central districts
Iran fires missiles at Israel, prompting air-raid sirens across Haifa, Caesarea and Hadera; Israeli military reports multiple launches after a strike on Beirut suburb, AFP.
Missile alert across northern and central Israel
The Israeli military said Sunday that its territory was targeted by missile fire from Iran, marking the first such strikes since the ceasefire announced on April 8. Air-raid sirens sounded across large swathes of the north and center, including the cities of Haifa, Caesarea and Hadera, according to military briefings.
Minutes after its initial statement, the army issued a second communiqué reporting a fresh barrage of missiles directed toward Israel. Officials described repeated launches but did not provide immediate battlefield assessments in their public statements.
Israeli military confirms multiple launches
Military sources said the strikes represented a coordinated effort with several projectiles detected heading toward population centres and military sites. Radar systems and air-defence measures were activated as alerts spread across the affected regions.
Israeli authorities cautioned residents to follow shelter instructions and remain vigilant while forces worked to assess damage and intercept further ordnance. The army’s rapid updates underscored the heightened readiness posture after the overnight alerts.
Iran links attack to strike on Beirut suburb
Iranian statements at the time said the strikes were in retaliation for an Israeli airstrike on the southern suburbs of Beirut that killed two people. Tehran warned it would target American and Israeli interests in the region following what it described as a deliberate escalation by Israel.
The Iranian government said Israel had crossed “all red lines” and must cease attacks on Lebanon, framing the missile launches as a direct response to the Beirut incident. The linkage between the Beirut strike and the missile launches elevated tensions between Tehran and regional actors overnight.
First strikes since the April 8 ceasefire and the war’s 100th day
Israeli officials noted that these were the first Iranian-fired missiles aimed at Israel since the ceasefire declared on April 8, breaking a fragile lull in direct exchanges. The resumption of strikes coincided with the conflict entering its 100th day, a milestone that has underscored the prolonged and volatile nature of the wider confrontation.
The broader conflict began with an Israeli–American offensive against Tehran, a campaign that has since expanded across several fronts and drawn international attention. As the fighting reached this centennial day, military and diplomatic actors warned that any further escalation risked widening the regional war.
Regional ripple effects and international concern
The renewed exchange of fire immediately raised alarms among neighbouring states and Western governments monitoring the situation. Diplomats expressed concern that retaliatory cycles between Iran and Israel could draw in allied forces and destabilize Lebanon, Syria and other nearby theatres.
International organisations and media agencies including the Agence France-Presse relayed the latest developments, highlighting the potential for rapid shifts in front-line dynamics. Observers said the strikes could prompt emergency consultations among regional partners and global powers seeking to prevent a broader conflagration.
The situation remained fluid as authorities on both sides continued to issue updates and assess the impact of the launches. Military analysts cautioned that the coming hours and days would be critical in determining whether the episode remains a limited exchange or sparks a new phase of sustained hostilities.
