ISRAEL AND IRAN EXCHANGE FIRE DESPITE CEASEFIRE AS TENSIONS FLARE ACROSS MIDDLE EAST . (PHOTO).

 Israel and Iran exchange fire despite ceasefire as tensions flare across Middle East 

 Israel and Iran exchanged fire early Monday in their first direct attacks since a U.S.-brokered ceasefire with Tehran took effect two months ago, raising fears of a broader regional war. Hours after the latest strikes, Iran’s military announced it would halt offensive operations, though tensions across the Middle East remained high and fragile.

The renewed violence comes after a conflict launched in February by coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, which has since rattled global markets, driven up energy costs, and increased prices for basic goods worldwide. Efforts to turn an April ceasefire into a lasting peace agreement have stalled, leaving the region on edge as sporadic attacks continued even during the truce.

While the ceasefire technically held for weeks, underlying hostilities persisted. Iran maintained its control over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route for oil and natural gas, while Israel continued military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon. On Monday, Yemen’s Houthi rebels, aligned with Iran, also claimed an attack on Israel and issued warnings targeting Israeli-linked shipping in the Red Sea, further widening the conflict.

With diplomatic progress limited and multiple fronts active, officials warned the situation appeared increasingly unstable. U.S. President Donald Trump called for an immediate end to the renewed fighting, writing that Israel and Iran must “stop shooting,” while Iranian military leaders warned that any further “aggression and hostile acts” would trigger a stronger response.

Diplomatic efforts to preserve the ceasefire intensified behind the scenes, with regional powers including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan and Qatar urging Washington to pressure Israel to scale back operations and encouraging Tehran to avoid retaliatory strikes. Despite those efforts, both sides continued to exchange fire.

Iran launched multiple waves of strikes against Israel, while Israel carried out attacks on central and western Iran. Explosions were reported in several Iranian cities, including Tehran, Isfahan, Karaj and Tabriz, and Iranian authorities temporarily closed airspace around Tehran’s main international airport following the strikes. Israeli officials said their operations targeted facilities linked to ballistic missile production as well as mobile missile launch systems.

Iran said its retaliatory strikes were directed at two Israeli military bases, while air defenses were activated across Israel and neighboring Jordan as incoming projectiles were intercepted. Iranian officials blamed Washington for enabling Israel’s actions, arguing the strikes could not occur without U.S. coordination, a claim the United States did not publicly address.

The latest escalation also highlighted growing political strain between U.S. and Israeli leadership. While the war was initially launched in close coordination between Washington and Jerusalem, recent months have seen signs of disagreement over strategy and timing. Israeli leaders have continued military actions against Hezbollah and Iran-linked targets, while the U.S. administration has expressed concern about prolonged instability and rising economic pressure.

Elsewhere in the region, Yemen’s Houthi movement escalated its involvement by renewing threats against Israel and commercial shipping in the Red Sea and surrounding waterways, raising concerns about renewed disruption to one of the world’s most important trade corridors.

Civilians in both Israel and Iran braced for the possibility of continued conflict. In Tehran, some residents expressed support for the government’s stance, while others prepared for prolonged instability. In Israel, schools were closed and air raid alerts disrupted daily life, though many businesses remained open as residents carried on under heightened security conditions.

With multiple active fronts and no clear diplomatic breakthrough in sight, the renewed exchanges underscored how quickly the region could slide back into wider conflict despite earlier ceasefire efforts.