Iran announces halt to operations against Israel, warns of more 'crushing' actions if 'aggression' continues

TEHRAN -- Iran's main military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, announced on Monday the cessation of the Iranian armed forces' operations against Israel, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.

In a statement, the headquarters warned that any further Israeli "aggression and malicious acts," including in southern Lebanon, would trigger a much more "severe and crushing" response.

It said the Iranian armed forces' actions were carried out in support of the Lebanese people following Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon and the Dahieh district south of the Lebanese capital Beirut.

It accused the United States of backing Israeli operations and said that Israel should have learned its lesson from Iran's response.

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) said in a statement on Sunday that its aerospace force had launched ballistic missiles at the Ramat David Air Base in northern Israel in response to Israel's "widespread crimes" in southern Lebanon.

The IRGC continued its attacks on Monday by targeting the Nevatim and Tel Nof air bases as well as certain industries in Israel.

In response to Iran's missile attacks, the Israeli military has carried out airstrikes on several targets in Iran, including a petrochemical company in the southwestern province of Khuzestan.

Earlier in the day, an Iranian military source was quoted by the semi-official Tasnim news agency as saying that Iran is ready for a long-term war with Israel, and dealing blows to the US interests.