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Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched "Operation Nasr" on Monday, firing missiles at Israel's Nevatim and Tel Nof air bases and vowing a "full week of continuous strikes" in response to Israeli missile attacks on Iranian radar sites.
Israel struck a petrochemical plant in Mahshahr, Iran, with explosions heard across multiple Iranian cities, as sirens sounded in central and southern Israel, with Netanyahu convening an emergency security cabinet meeting on the 100th day of the Iran war.
The exchanges mark the most serious breakdown of the April 8 ceasefire framework since it took effect, with Iran threatening "widespread operations on all fronts."
Iran's IRGC announced "Operation Nasr," using the code phrase "Ya Haidar Karrar," targeting Israel's Nevatim and Tel Nof air bases. The operation was framed as a response to Israeli missile strikes on Iranian radar sites in three locations.
"The operation was carried out in response to a missile attack launched by the Zionist regime against several radar sites in three different places in Iran," the IRGC said in a statement.
The Guard said all combat and operational units were at "full readiness for widespread and exemplary operations on all fronts" and that "action plans have been prepared in accordance with enemy scenarios."
In a separate statement, the IRGC warned: "Waves of missiles and drones will continue to be launched around the clock for the next seven days until the enemy is deterred and ceases its crimes." It added: "Any targeting of Iranian territory will be met with a devastating and overwhelming response beyond all expectations."
Israeli defense officials believed the escalation would lead to "several days of warfare" between Israel and Iran, Israeli media reported.
All Iranian missiles fired at Israel were intercepted. Sirens sounded in several cities in central and southern Israel.
Israeli airstrikes targeted the Karoun Petrochemical plant in Mahshahr's special economic zone in Khuzestan province at approximately 7:30 a.m (4:00 a.m. GMT). Two strikes hit the complex.
Iranian officials said the strike caused partial damage, and no casualties were immediately reported. Iran's state news agency IRNA said all workers at the vast Mahshahr petrochemical complex, which employs tens of thousands, were being evacuated under emergency provisions.
The semi-official Fars and Mehr news agencies also reported strikes on Iranian territory, with explosions heard in Isfahan, Karaj, Tabriz, and Tehran following Israeli strikes.
The IRGC said Israel used air-launched ballistic missiles. Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport closed its airspace following the strikes.
Netanyahu convened a security cabinet meeting at 11 a.m. local time, attended by a small group of key ministers. The meeting was called amid the rapidly escalating military exchanges.
Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdurrahman Al Thani spoke by phone with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Monday, the Qatari Foreign Ministry said, discussing U.S.-Iran mediation efforts and developments in Lebanon.
Araghchi also spoke by phone with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, Iran's foreign ministry reported, discussing Iran's military response to what Tehran described as repeated ceasefire violations and continued Israeli aggression against Lebanon.
Araghchi also held a call with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein on the same issues.
Monday marked the 100th day of the Iran war, launched February 28 when Israel and the United States killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other senior Iranian leaders.
The current escalation was triggered on Sunday when Israel struck Beirut's Dahiyeh district without prior warning in defiance of U.S. requests to stand down, prompting Iran to fire missiles at Israel for the first time since the April ceasefire. Iran had pledged a "painful and decisive response" to the Beirut strikes.
All Iranian missiles launched on Sunday were intercepted.
Araghchi posted a photo of the flags of the Islamic Republic and Lebanon on X shortly after Sunday's initial strikes began.
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