Israel and Iran exchange attacks, risking dragging the region back into war

Israel and Iran exchanged missile attacks early Monday, in a series of retaliatory strikes that risked plunging the Middle East into a full-scale regional war. 

Meanwhile, Yemen's Houthi rebels have also attacked Israel and warned they will target Israeli-linked ships in the Red Sea, further escalating tensions.

Israel carried out strikes in central and western Iran in the early hours of Monday in response to missile attacks from Tehran, while Iran responded with a wave of attacks. It was the first exchange of attacks between the two countries since a ceasefire was reached on April 8. 

Explosions were heard across central Israel as air defense systems scrambled to intercept the Iranian missiles. Sirens were also heard across neighboring Jordan.
Iran has warned that the United States will be held responsible for any further escalation.

"No one believes that the Israeli regime would take any action without coordination with the United States," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said during a press conference in Tehran. 

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"The United States bears responsibility for the Israeli regime's aggression and will also be responsible for the consequences of any escalation of tensions," he added.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps has announced that it has struck two military bases in Israel, describing the attacks as part of Operation "Nasr" (Victory). It said the missiles were launched after Israel struck radar stations in three areas of Iran. 

The Israeli military, meanwhile, said it had targeted surface-to-air missile launchers mounted on trucks.

Tehran had warned of retaliation on Sunday after Israel struck the southern suburbs of Beirut without warning, defying Washington's demand for restraint.

Monday marks the 100th day of the war with Iran, which reportedly began on February 28, when Israel and the US assassinated Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, as well as other senior Iranian leaders.

The war continued until April 8, when Iran and the United States reached a ceasefire. However, efforts to finally end the conflict have been hampered by Iran's control of the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the world's oil and natural gas trade passes in peacetime, and by clashes between Israel and Hezbollah.

With global energy supplies still under threat and Iran still possessing a large stockpile of highly enriched uranium, and with the involvement of Houthi rebels in the fighting, the risk of war breaking out again on a large scale appears to be increasing.

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Two regional officials said on Monday that intensive diplomatic efforts were underway to salvage a ceasefire between Iran and the United States after an exchange of attacks between Israel and Iran.

According to them, officials from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan and Qatar have urged the US administration to pressure Israel to limit its attacks on Iran and Beirut. They have also called on Iranian officials to stop attacks on Israel.