Israel and Iran trade strikes, threatening to drag the region back into full-scale war

By — Jon Gambrell, Associated Press Jon Gambrell, Associated Press By — Melanie Lidman, Associated Press Melanie Lidman, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/israel-and-iran-trade-strikes-threatening-to-drag-the-region-back-into-full-scale-war Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Israel and Iran trade strikes, threatening to drag the region back into full-scale war World Jun 8, 2026 10:11 AM EDT DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Israel and Iran traded fire Monday in their first attacks since the U.S. struck a ceasefire with Tehran two months ago. The Iranian military said hours later that it was halting offensive operations as the renewed hostilities threatened to drag the Middle East back into a full-scale war. The U.S. told Iran there would be no more attacks by Israel if Iran halted its missile strikes, and that Israel has agreed to halt attacks for now, according to a regional official who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. The White House and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Since the U.S. and Israel began striking Iran on Feb. 28, the war has shaken the global economy, driven energy prices up around the world and made many basics, including food, more expensive. Officials have been unable to turn the April ceasefire into a deal to permanently end the conflict. During the truce, Iran has maintained its stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz — a crucial passage for the world's oil and natural gas whose closure was the primary reason global fuel prices skyrocketed. Israel has continued to strike Hezbollah, Iran's ally in Lebanon, and pushed deeper into that country. And on Monday, Yemen's Houthi rebels, another Iranian ally, fired at Israel and warned they would target Israel-affiliated ships in the Red Sea. WATCH: What may happen as oil supplies dwindle and Strait of Hormuz remains mostly closed With little apparent progress in peace talks, Israel and Iran exchanging fire, and the Houthis joining the fight, the risk of the war fully erupting again appeared higher than at any point since the ceasefire. In the wake of the new attacks, U.S. President Donald Trump wrote online : "Israel and Iran must immediately stop 'shooting.'" Shortly after, the Iranian military's joint command issued its statement. It said further "aggression and hostile acts" by Israel and its supporters, including in southern Lebanon, would be met with "much more severe and crushing measures than before." Diplomats are racing to save the ceasefire Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed concern Monday over the surge in violence. In a post on X, Sharif urged all parties to "exercise restraint and give peace a little more chance." Two