Israel and Iran pause hostilities after first direct clash since US-brokered ceasefire
Both nations issued warnings of further retaliation while lifting recent safety restrictions, marking a fragile de-escalation following 100 days of conflict that has disrupted global energy markets and strained transatlantic alliances.
Israel and Iran appeared to withdraw from immediate military confrontation on Monday, halting offensive operations hours after exchanging fire for the first time since a ceasefire was established two months ago. The renewed clashes, which coincided with the 100-day mark of the broader conflict, prompted urgent diplomatic interventions from regional leaders and the Trump administration to prevent a wider regional war.
The de-escalation followed a cycle of retaliation that began with an Israeli strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs and an Iranian missile response. Following the exchange, the Iranian military’s joint command issued a statement confirming it had halted offensive strikes, though it warned that any further aggression by Israel or its allies would be met with “much more severe and crushing measures.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a videotaped address, implied the current round of fighting had concluded but maintained that Israel retained the right to self-defence and would respond with force if provoked.
The conflict has already exacted a significant toll on civilian infrastructure and safety. The Lebanese Health Ministry reported that Israeli airstrikes on the village of Zefta killed seven people, including a Syrian child, and wounded eight others. A separate strike on the coastal city of Tyre killed five and injured eight, including members of the Lebanese Red Cross. In response to the heightened tensions, both Israel and Iran lifted airspace and school closure restrictions that had been imposed as precautionary measures.
Economic and maritime security concerns have intensified alongside the military exchanges. The US Central Command disabled the Palau-flagged oil tanker M/T Marivex in the Gulf of Oman after it attempted to breach a US blockade on Iranian ports. The crew of 24 Indian sailors were reported safe, marking the seventh commercial vessel disabled by the US to enforce the blockade, which began in mid-April. Meanwhile, Iran has maintained its control over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil and natural gas, contributing to rising energy prices and inflation worldwide.
Diplomatic channels remain active as regional powers seek to contain the violence. Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan, and Qatar have urged the Trump administration to pressure Israel to halt strikes on Iran and Beirut, while simultaneously calling on Iran to cease attacks on Israel. Iranian UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani stated that negotiations with the US for a peace deal were ongoing, expressing hope for a conclusion “very soon.” However, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed an attack on Israel and threatened vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, signalling that the threat of regional spillover remains acute.
