Israel strikes military targets in Iran after missile launches; explosions reported

The Israeli military announced early Monday that it had conducted airstrikes targeting "military objectives" within Iran, escalating tensions after Tehran launched missiles toward Israel.

Explosions were heard in multiple Iranian cities, including the capital Tehran, Tabriz, and Isfahan, state television reported. The strikes mark a significant escalation, representing the first direct military engagement between the two nations following a period of heightened regional conflict.

Iran had previously presented its missile launches as a "warning" in retaliation for an alleged Israeli bombing of the southern suburbs of Beirut, a Hezbollah stronghold. That attack reportedly resulted in casualties and occurred despite a theoretical truce between Lebanon and Israel.

Simultaneously, Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed to have targeted "terrorist groups" in Iraqi Kurdistan. The Islamic Republic's ideological army reportedly struck a "headquarters of terrorist groups" in Sulaymaniyah, though details regarding the specific organizations involved were not immediately clear.

The exchange of fire has sent ripples through global markets, with oil prices surging over 3% in early trading. Brent crude rose to $96.15 per barrel, and WTI crude climbed to $93.48, reflecting renewed concerns over regional stability amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.