Israel has launched airstrikes targeting central and western Iran in response to missile fire. Iranian state television has reported the sound of explosions being heard in Isfahan, Tabriz and Tehran.
The Israeli Air Force conducted strikes on military targets in central and Western Iran on Monday morning local time, Israel Defense Forces said in a statement. Why it matters: The strikes, in retaliation for an Iranian missile attack against Israel, mark a new phase in a growing escalation that started on Sunday morning. This is the first time Israel has struck Iran since the April 8 ceasefire. - Iran had threatened to expand its attacks and target U.S. bases in the region if Israel retaliated. - Further exchanges of fire could unravel the negotiations between the U.S. and Iran and lead to the resumption of the war. - President Trump told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu several hours before the strikes to stand down and…