Iran halts strikes on Israel after two sides exchange fire, but warns of "more severe" consequences if attacks on Lebanon continue. Follow live updates.

 

Tehran said its attacks would resume if Israel struck southern Lebanon. Trump demanded Iran and Israel stop 'shooting' after fresh strikes imperil ceasefire

Here's the latest

• War escalates: Israel accepted US request to halt strikes on Iran but will continue attacks on southern Lebanon, sources say. Iran has suspended its operations on Israel, but warned it would resume if strikes in southern Lebanon continue. It’s been the worst escalation since the April truce.

• Trump’s diplomacy: US President Donald Trump said the countries were aiming for a ceasefire while he insisted a peace deal is close. Before the escalation, Trump told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to hold off on retaliating against Iran, according to a US official.

• US approach: In a notable shift from previous rounds of conflicts, the US military didn’t intercept any of the Iranian missiles fired overnight toward Israel, a US official told CNN.

Iran suspends military operation against Israel but says it will resume if attacks on Lebanon continue

Iran said it has suspended military operations against Israel but warned it would resume them if strikes continue, including in southern Lebanon, where Israel is conducting ongoing operations.

“The powerful Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in support of the oppressed people of Lebanon, delivered a painful response to this regime (Israel),” Iran’s military said in a statement cited by Tasnim news agency.

“Should the aggressions and hostile acts continue – including in southern Lebanon – far more severe and crushing measures than before will be forthcoming,” it said.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said in a message to government ministers on Monday that Israel “will not accept the regime in Tehran’s attempt to create a new equation,” whereby strikes on targets in a Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut “are met with Iranian attacks on population centers in Israel,” an Israeli official told CNN earlier.

“We will continue to operate throughout Lebanon, as required, to remove the Hezbollah terror threat to our citizens,” the message said.

Netanyahu to convene security cabinet to discuss Iran, official says

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will convene the security cabinet on Monday to discuss escalating hostilities between Israel and Iran, an Israeli official told CNN.

The meeting follows a series of security consultations Netanyahu held today, the official said, including a smaller meeting with top defense officials and select ministers.

The consultations come after Israel and Iran exchanged fire. According to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), Iran fired close to 30 ballistic missiles. In addition, two missiles were fired by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen.

US President Donald Trump on Monday called for Israel and Iran to agree to a ceasefire and “immediately stop shooting,” in a post on Truth Social.