Israel said on Monday it was working to intercept a second wave of missiles fired from Iran, just hours after a first Iranian salvo earlier in the day, marking the second day of direct missile exchanges between the two countries.
The Israeli army said on Telegram that it had “identified missiles launched from Iran” and was working to thwart the threat, urging the public to take shelter. AFP journalists in Jerusalem heard at least eight explosions and one reporter witnessed at least one interception as residents hurried to shelters. Israel’s emergency service Magen David Adom said it had no reports of casualties.
Earlier in the day, Israel said it had struck military targets in western and central Iran, reigniting the cross-fire that began on Sunday when the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired missiles at the Ramat David Airbase in northern Israel. Iran’s foreign ministry has framed the operation as a response to alleged Israeli and US violations of the April 17 ceasefire.
US President Donald Trump said new strikes by Israel and Iran would not affect his administration’s peace talks with Tehran, adding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “doesn’t call the shots.” Trump has leaned on Israel to halt attacks in Lebanon to make room for a wider deal, reportedly rebuking Netanyahu with obscenities in a phone call last week. Despite the pressure, Israel struck the Beirut area on Sunday for the first time since the United States announced a truce plan for Lebanon last week.
The renewed exchanges have pushed crude prices higher and prompted Iran to suspend operations at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport, with the Strait of Hormuz risk premium feeding directly back into Sri Lanka’s fuel import costs.
