Donald Trump’s appeal to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to avoid further retaliation against Iran appears to have failed, after the Israeli military confirmed it had struck targets inside Iranian territory.

The development came after Iran launched missiles in response to earlier Israeli strikes in southern Beirut, raising concerns that the conflict could expand into a wider regional war.

The Israeli military said its air force targeted military sites in western and central Iran, though it did not provide further details.

The White House did not immediately respond to questions on whether the strikes were coordinated with the United States.

Trump had earlier urged restraint, telling Axios that negotiations with Iran were “close” and warning against further escalation.

He said he planned to speak directly with Netanyahu to discourage additional strikes.

“I don’t want it to blow up because of what’s happening now,” Trump said, adding that both sides had already carried out attacks and further action was unnecessary.

Meanwhile, tensions continued to rise across the region. An Iranian parliamentary speaker and chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said US bases and assets had become “legitimate targets” following Israeli strikes on Beirut.

A senior Iranian official also vowed a “decisive and painful” response to the attacks on the Lebanese capital’s southern suburbs, while air raid sirens were reported in parts of northern Israel shortly afterwards.