Iran declares end to attacks after trading strikes with Israel

Iran has declared an end to its military operations against Israel after the two sides exchanged a wave of attacks. Iran fired missiles at Israel late Sunday in the first such bombardment in the two months since a ceasefire.

Israel launched airstrikes early Monday targeting central and western Iran in response. The truce in the Iran war that was reached in April has not spread to Lebanon, where Israel has been battling Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants. Israel says it is defending its northern communities that face Hezbollah drone and rocket fire. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said “the fire on this front has been contained,” but warned that if Iran attacks again, “we will respond with force.”

Iran sees Israel’s ground invasion, with thousands of troops, and airstrikes in Lebanon as a ceasefire violation. It insists that any deal with the United States must end the fighting there. Israel disagrees.

President Donald Trump had demanded the two countries “immediately stop shooting.” He also said that they were “looking to do an immediate ceasefire” and that “final negotiations on ‘peace’ are proceeding, subject to ignorance or stupidity getting in its way.”

However, the latest strikes have made it clear that Trump and Netanyahu, who started the war in lockstep, want different things.  With midterm elections in November, Trump wants to wind down an unpopular war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz to ease gas prices.

Netanyahu, who also faces elections this year, is under pressure to stop Hezbollah’s attacks and prove that he is winning the war with Iran and its allies.