Iran has made good on its threat, but a lot now depends on Israel's responsepublished at 21:27 BST

21:27 BST

Sebastian Usher
Global affairs correspondent

Image source, Reuters

The tension between Iran, Israel and the US over Israel's offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon has been building in intensity in recent days.

When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave his military the green light to strike the southern suburbs of Beirut again last week, Tehran threatened that it would carry out new strikes on northern Israel if it did so.

The possibility of a major new escalation in Lebanon prompted US President Donald Trump to tell Netanyahu in the strongest possible language to hold back, for fear that any such action would derail the already fraying ceasefire between the US and Iran.

Netanyahu agreed, but on condition that Hezbollah would fire no more rockets into northern Israel.

A sketchy new ceasefire was subsequently agreed between the Israeli and Lebanese governments at talks mediated by the US. But once again, that ceasefire didn't seem to have much effect on the ground.

And it now appears to have collapsed, after Israel carried out strikes on the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital Beirut in response to continued rocket fire by Hezbollah into Israel.

Just a few hours later, Iran has made good on its threat, firing a barrage of missiles and drones into Israel. Iran's Revolutionary Guards has promised to continue for seven days, although there are other signs that this new salvo may have been intended as a warning.

Much will now depend on Israel’s response.

There could be a new round of tit for tat attacks between the two countries that could reignite the Iran war.

How President Trump reacts will also be key. For now, he still seems set on trying to defuse the situation.

One thing this latest development has made even clearer is how central a role the conflict in Lebanon now plays in determining what happens in the wider conflict.

Ghoncheh Habibiazad
Senior reporter, BBC Persian

Iranian media reports Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Commander Majid Mousavi has said "promise fulfilled", following Iranian strikes on Israel.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted a photo of the flags of the Islamic Republic and Lebanon on X shortly after the start of tonight's attacks.

Senior Member of Iran's Parliament, Ebrahim Rezaei, had vowed a "painful and decisive response" to Israel's attacks on Beirut, Lebanon, earlier today.

"Watch the sky of the occupied territories tonight," Rezaei posted on X before the Iranian attacks took place.

Image source, Abbas Araghchi/X

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

Tehran "must burn", says Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, following Iran's newest strikes targeting northern Israel.

"Tonight Tehran must burn!" he says in a short post written in Hebrew on X.

Ghoncheh Habibiazad
Senior reporter, BBC Persian

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says in a statement that tonight’s attacks on Israel “served as a warning”.

It adds that should Israel's "acts of aggression" - referring to its attack on Lebanon earlier today - be repeated, further responses would be "broader", encompassing "all" US and Israeli targets in the region.

The IRGC has claimed that it targeted the Ramat David Airbase, located to the south-east of Haifa, using ballistic missiles.

It also accused the US and Israel of "failing to honour their commitments" under the ceasefire between Iran, the US and Israel, which came into effect in early April.

Image source, Getty Images

US President Donald Trump has urged Iran to return to the negotiating table, after it launched missiles at northern Israel.

A Fox News correspondent quotes Trump as saying: "You've shot your missiles. That's enough. Get back to the table and make a deal."

US President Donald Trump has been briefed on the strikes Iran launched at Israel, the White House confirms to the BBC.

The Israel Air Force says it has intercepted "all the missiles launched from Iran so far".

It adds that "additional launches" have been identified and Israel's military is "continuously detecting and intercepting threats".

Image source, Reuters

Earlier, Israel hit southern Beirut in the first attack on the Lebanese capital since a truce brokered by the US last week.

Two air strikes on two apartment buildings in a stronghold of Iran-backed Hezbollah killed two people and injured at least 20, including women and children, Lebanon's health ministry said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had struck "terrorist headquarters in the Dahieh district of Beirut, in response to Hezbollah's firing at Israeli territory". Hezbollah has since confirmed it fired at Israeli military positions.

Following that attack on Beirut, the IDF said it was "preparing for potential fire" towards Israel in the coming hours.

In the past few minutes, Iran has confirmed it fired missiles at Israel.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says "this operation is not a passing event, but rather the beginning of a full week of continuous strikes".

In a statement it adds: "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."

"Any targeting of Iranian territory will be met with a devastating and overwhelming response beyond all expectation," it adds.

We've just seen a statement from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

It says "our missile and drone units launched a co-ordinated and intensive attack targeting the heart of the northern cities" in Israel.

We'll bring you more on this shortly.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says "an additional barrage of missiles was launched toward the State of Israel".

"The Aerial Defense Array is currently identifying and intercepting threats," it says.

The Israeli military says it has intercepted a wave of Iranian missiles in northern Israel.

The Israel Defense Forces adds sirens have been sounded in several parts of the country.

This is a breaking news story, we'll bring you more shortly.