Israel Responds to Iran's Attacks: Netanyahu Disobeys Trump While Peace Deal Remains in Limbo

The escalation of attacks between Israel and Iran took a new turn early Sunday morning, when Tehran launched an offensive against Israeli territory. As a consequence, hours later, the Government of Benjamin Netanyahu decided to respond militarily despite warnings from US President, Donald Trump, who had asked to avoid any retaliation to not jeopardize ongoing negotiations.

During the early hours of this Monday, the Israeli Air Force has carried out a series of bombings against Iranian military installations. According to the Army, the attacks were directed against strategic targets "in western and central Iran". Explosions were heard in Tehran and in other cities such as Isfahan and Tabriz. In addition, the Karun petrochemical company has been hit near Sarbandar, in the Iranian province of Khuzestan.

The Israeli response comes after the Revolutionary Guard justified Sunday's offensive as a pressure measure for Israel to stop its military operations in Lebanon. The Iranian attack occurred a few hours after the first Israeli bombing of Beirut since the entry into force of the new truce with Hezbollah.

After the Iranian attack, the US president had publicly expressed his desire for Israel to avoid a military response to prevent an escalation with unpredictable consequences.

"The launch of Iranian missiles did not hit anyone. I hope Israel does not respond. If Bibi (Benjamin Netanyahu) counterattacks, the situation will drag on as it has for the last 47 years, or the last 3,000 years," Trump declared in an interview with Axios.

"We are very close to a definitive agreement with Iran. It will be a good agreement. I don't want it to fail because of what is happening now," said the US president, who even assured that he planned to personally contact Netanyahu to convince him not to act. "Israel had its attack and Iran had its own. We don't need another."

However, the Israeli prime minister chose to ignore those recommendations and ordered the offensive against Iranian territory, a decision that adds uncertainty about the future of peace negotiations.