Explosions rock Tehran, Tabriz, Isfahan and Haifa as a fragile ceasefire collapses — global markets plunge, flights are cancelled across the region, and the world watches to see if diplomacy can hold.
IDEA Television World Desk
Israel and Iran have exchanged their most intense barrage of strikes since the fragile April 2026 ceasefire, triggering a global emergency response — as US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social demanding both nations “immediately stop shooting,” while simultaneously warning he would act militarily if a deal was not reached.
The escalation began after Israel struck the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, killing at least two people and wounding 20 others. Iran responded with three successive waves of missile attacks on Israeli territory, with sirens sounding across the country and damage reported in the northern city of Haifa — a petrochemical facility there was struck by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in what it called a direct retaliation for Israeli attacks on Iranian petrochemical sites.
What Each Side Did
Trump: “We Will Take Them Out Militarily”
Trump’s public call for a ceasefire came with a stark warning. Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press, the US president said the two sides were “very close” to signing an agreement to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz — but that several sticking points remained. He warned that if no deal was reached, the United States would “take them out militarily, very harshly.”
Trump had earlier urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to retaliate against Iran, according to a US official — but Israel proceeded with strikes regardless. Iran’s Foreign Ministry hit back, stating that the US “bears responsibility as a party to the April ceasefire” and warning that Washington would “bear responsibility for the consequences of any escalation.”
Global Markets in Freefall
Asian markets plunged on Monday as news of the exchange broke, compounded by a prior US stock sell-off driven by AI bubble concerns. South Korea’s Kospi at one point fell nearly 9% before paring some losses. Memory chipmakers Samsung and SK Hynix led the technology rout, shedding 5.7% and 2.7% respectively.
What Happens Next
