Israel and Iran exchange fire for the first time since truce

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A missile was launched during a military exercise in Isfahan, Iran, on October 28, 2026. — Reuters

– This marks the first exchange since a two-month truce.
– No casualties have been reported so far.
– Houthis have announced a ban on shipping through the Red Sea.

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Israel and Iran reportedly exchanged strikes on Monday for the first time since a ceasefire took hold two months ago, despite calls from U.S. President Donald Trump urging restraint.

The escalation involved Israel targeting Iranian forces after Tehran launched retaliatory actions against Israel, following an airstrike on southern Beirut, where Hezbollah operates as Iran’s proxy.

This confrontation comes after weeks of diplomatic talks aimed at ending the ongoing regional conflict that was ignited by US and Israeli strikes on Iran earlier this year on February 28.

No casualties have been confirmed in either Israel or Iran so far.

The attacks included an assault on an Iranian petrochemical complex and a missile strike on Israel by Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

The Israeli Defense Forces claimed to have struck and dismantled Iranian missile defenses located across various parts of the country.

In Jerusalem and Ramallah, AFP journalists reported hearing multiple explosions, and the Israeli military stated it was intercepting a new wave of Iranian missiles.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards declared they had targeted Israel’s Nevatim and Tel Nof air bases in response to Israel’s missile attacks, calling them “legitimate targets.”

Tehran accused the U.S. of provoking the renewed fighting and warned that the conflict could disrupt peace negotiations.

“Few believe that the Zionist regime would have acted without prior coordination with the United States,” said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei during a Tehran press conference, attended by AFP. “Naturally, the diplomatic efforts to end this imposed war will be affected, but they are still ongoing across all channels.”

Meanwhile, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels announced they launched a missile attack on Israel on Monday— the first since early April— and declared a complete ban on Israeli shipping in the Red Sea, raising fears of significant disruption to this key maritime route.

“In response to recent acts of aggression, we declare a total ban on Israeli maritime navigation in the Red Sea,” the Houthis said in a statement.

President Trump called on both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iran to de-escalate, but Israel accused Tehran of making a “grave mistake.”

“I am the one making the decisions. I call all the shots. Netanyahu doesn’t call the shots,” Trump told the Financial Times on Sunday. He advised Iran to stop firing missiles and return to negotiations for a deal.

The EU’s chief diplomat, Kaja Kallas, urged both sides to remain calm and resume negotiations, while China echoed those calls, stating that “resuming hostilities isn’t in anyone’s best interest,” according to Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lin Jian.

Iran insists that any peace agreement ending the war must also halt the broader conflict in Lebanon, where Israel is targeting Hezbollah.

Iranian officials have warned that recent strikes— including an attack on Beirut’s southern suburbs— serve as warnings that wider military action could follow if aggression continues.

An attack on Iraqi Kurdistan targeting “terrorist groups” added to the tension, as Iran accuses Kurdish factions of advancing Western or Israeli interests.

Earlier, Israel responded to Hezbollah’s fire by hitting a military command center in Beirut’s Dahiyeh district, resulting in two deaths and 20 injuries, according to Lebanon’s health authorities.

Hezbollah later launched missiles and drones at Israeli military positions early Sunday, prompting Israeli warnings of retaliation.

Iranian officials, including Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, accused the U.S. of signaling support for the Beirut attack, claiming American and Israeli assets are now “legitimate targets.”

Iran’s top military commander said Israel’s strikes in Beirut crossed red lines.

The conflict has driven crude oil prices higher amid fears of blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a vital corridor threatened by Iran’s recent siege actions, adding pressure on already strained Iranian society.

“I feel numb,” said Elaheh, a 32-year-old fitness trainer from Ahvaz. “Life feels like a joke. Things are terrible. We’re just trying to survive,” she added, pointing to rising costs of living.

Diplomatic efforts continue quietly— Pakistani officials, including Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, recently visited Tehran and delivered a “special letter” to Iran’s Supreme Leader, though they have now returned to Pakistan, according to official sources.