Iran Halts Strikes on Israel, Warns of Fiercer Response if Lebanon Attacks Continue

Iran on Monday declared a halt to its military strikes on Israel but issued a stark warning: if Israeli attacks on Lebanon continue, Tehran will respond with even greater force.

Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said in a statement carried by the semi-official Tasnim news agency that its armed forces had delivered a "painful response" to Israel following attacks on southern Beirut and the Dahiya region. The statement said Israel and its backers "should have learned" from Tehran's actions.

"On this basis, the cessation of armed forces operations is announced," the statement read, but added that further aggression particularly in southern Lebanon would invite "much more severe and crushing measures."

Tensions had sharply escalated on Sunday when Israel bombed Beirut despite an active ceasefire. Iran retaliated by launching missiles at northern Israel. Israel then responded with several rounds of airstrikes against Iranian targets.

Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom reported that Israel and the United States sent a joint message to Tehran, indicating that Israel would not carry out further strikes if Iran refrained from firing again.

US President Donald Trump, posting on his Truth Social platform early Monday, urged both sides to "immediately" cease fighting.