Israel launches retaliatory airstrikes against Iran despite Trump pleas for restraint

Israel on Sunday night launched airstrikes against Iran, retaliating for a volley of missiles that Tehran fired earlier in the day that tested a fragile ceasefire in the region.

Israel's counterattack came despite pleas from President Donald Trump for restraint as all sides tried to pursue a still-elusive peace deal.

"A short while ago, the Israeli Air Force struck military targets belonging to the Iranian terror regime in western and central Iran," the Israeli military  said in a statement.

Sunday proved to be one of the most difficult days in the Mideast in recent weeks, as Iran shot missiles at Israel after an Israeli airstrike on Beirut.

Israel said it was targeting the Iran-backed militants Hezbollah.

Hezbollah said it had attacked a group of Israeli state fighters with drones, according to reports.

Trump said Sunday that he would ask Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to respond to the attack, according to Axios. 

Trump cited the progress toward a deal with Iran as the reason Israeli should not respond.