Israel launched strikes on military targets in western and central Iran early Monday, according to the Israeli military, after Iran fired a wave of missiles at northern Israel — a significant escalation that has reverberated across the region and pushed oil prices higher.

Strikes reported across Iran
The Israeli armed forces said the strikes hit military installations in western and central provinces. State media in Iran and local broadcasters reported explosions in Tehran, Tabriz and Isfahan in the early morning hours, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Israel used air-launched ballistic missiles in the attacks, the IRNA news agency reported.

Iranian emergency services and the Iranian Red Crescent said they were on standby to deal with any fallout. “Rapid response teams, logistical, relief and medical facilities are standing by following this morning’s strikes,” the Red Crescent said on X. There were no immediate independent confirmations of casualty figures.

Why it happened
Initial reports indicate the Israeli strikes were retaliatory. Earlier on Monday Iran launched missiles at northern Israel — the first such barrage since the April ceasefire — citing repeated Israeli actions in Lebanon that Tehran said violated the truce. Iranian officials described the missile fire as a response to what they called ongoing Israeli aggression.

According to regional analysts and Western officials, the sequence of attacks marks one of the sharpest direct exchanges between Israel and Iran since the broader round of hostilities began in spring. “This is a rapid escalation in a conflict that has largely been proxied through militia groups until now,” a Western diplomat familiar with the situation said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

US and allies respond
The United States reported shooting down two Iranian drones over the Strait of Hormuz in the past 48 hours, citing threats to international shipping, and CENTCOM said those actions were taken to protect commercial vessels. US President Donald Trump, in a telephone interview with the Financial Times, said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would have “no choice” but to accept any deal the United States negotiates with Iran. “He won’t have any choice. I call the shots,” Trump said, adding the strikes would not derail US-Iran negotiations.

Regional disruptions
Several countries moved quickly to protect civil aviation and shipping. Iran closed western airspace until further notice; neighbouring Iraq closed its airspace for 72 hours and Syria for 12 hours. Saudi authorities issued alerts in parts of Riyadh province after reports of an explosion near Al Kharj, though Iranian state media denied firing on the Saudi base.

Markets reacted immediately. Brent crude rose about 3.6% within an hour of the strikes being reported, trading near $96–97 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate climbed more than 3%.

Ground-level picture
Residents in Tehran and Isfahan reported hearing explosions early on Monday; social media carried video clips of shockwaves and emergency responders at sites around the affected cities. Local hospitals and civil defence agencies were placed on alert as authorities assessed damage.

Analysts warned the risk of miscalculation is high. “When both sides begin striking each other’s territory directly, there’s a narrower margin to prevent wider conflict,” said a regional security analyst in New Delhi. “Escalation can spread quickly through allied militias and third-party actors.”

What happens next
Diplomatic channels are expected to be active in coming hours and days. Western capitals and regional powers are likely to call for restraint while assessing whether the strikes were targeted at military infrastructure only or intended to undermine Iran’s wider capabilities.

Iran has long demanded guarantees over its right to enrich uranium and the release of frozen assets as part of talks with the US; Tehran also accused shifting US positions of stalling negotiations. How the strikes influence those talks remains unclear — President Trump said they would not alter his push to conclude a deal.

For ordinary people in the region the immediate concern is safety and disruption: flights, cross-border trade and oil shipments may face short-term interruptions, and any sustained exchange could compound an already fragile security situation.

Sources and attribution
Details in this report are based on statements from the Israeli military, Iranian state agencies including IRNA, the Iranian Red Crescent, CENTCOM briefings, and statements from US officials and media interviews. Local eyewitness accounts and market data on crude prices were also consulted.