Dubai, UAE — Israel and Iran appeared to step back from further military action on Monday after exchanging strikes for the first time since a U.S.-brokered ceasefire took hold two months ago, easing immediate fears of a broader regional war.
Both sides, however, warned they remained prepared to retaliate if attacked again.
The latest violence underscored the fragility of efforts to convert the April ceasefire into a lasting settlement after more than three months of conflict that disrupted global energy markets and heightened tensions across the Middle East.
U.S. President Donald Trump called for an immediate halt to hostilities, while regional governments intensified diplomatic efforts to prevent a wider confrontation.
Iran’s military said it was suspending offensive operations but warned that any further Israeli action would be met with a stronger response. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested the latest round of fighting had concluded while stressing that Israel would respond forcefully to future attacks.
The exchange followed Israeli strikes in Iran and Iranian missile attacks on Israel, with both sides citing earlier actions by the other as justification.
Although restrictions on civilian activity were eased in both countries, tensions remained elevated. Israel said schools that had closed would reopen, while Iranian authorities lifted airspace restrictions affecting commercial flights.
Regional officials said Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan and Qatar had urged Washington to pressure both Israel and Iran to avoid further escalation.
Meanwhile, Iranian officials expressed cautious optimism about ongoing negotiations with the United States aimed at reaching a broader peace arrangement.
The latest confrontation highlighted the continuing risk of renewed conflict despite months of diplomatic efforts and an existing ceasefire framework.
Lebanon ceasefire efforts under strain
The renewed Israel-Iran exchanges come as fighting in Lebanon shows little sign of easing despite fresh US-backed attempts to reinforce a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon this week killed at least 15 people, including Lebanese army Brigadier General Wassam Sabra, Captain Elie Khoury and soldier Hussein Ghozal. Lebanon accused Israel of undermining efforts to stabilise the border region, while Israel said the incident occurred in an active combat zone and remained under investigation.
The violence has complicated attempts to consolidate a conditional truce brokered by Washington after repeated violations of the April ceasefire. Hezbollah has rejected the latest arrangement, arguing that it fails to address ongoing Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon.
Diplomacy faces fresh obstacles
The deteriorating security situation has also weighed on broader negotiations linked to the nearly 100-day-old US-Iran conflict. Talks remain stalled over sanctions relief, security guarantees and regional flashpoints, including Lebanon.
Lebanese army chief General Rudolf Haykal travelled to Pakistan over the weekend for discussions linked to mediation efforts involving Islamabad, which has emerged as a channel for communication between Washington and Tehran.
Regional tensions have also spread beyond Israel, Iran and Lebanon. Iran recently launched missiles and drones toward Bahrain and Kuwait following US strikes on Iranian coastal radar facilities, further testing already fragile understandings between Washington and Tehran.
Economic concerns deepen
The conflict’s impact is increasingly being felt beyond the battlefield. The UN World Food Programme has warned that disruptions linked to instability around the Strait of Hormuz are pushing up fuel and food prices and worsening global food insecurity.
The agency said prolonged regional instability could leave millions more people vulnerable to hunger while increasing costs for humanitarian operations already facing significant funding pressures.
