Tel Aviv: A ceasefire between Israel and Iran took effect early on Tuesday, with the two countries confirming an earlier announcement by US President Donald Trump - although its durability was uncertain amid reports of new attacks.
According to Ghana News Agency, Trump declared on his Truth Social platform that Israel and Iran had agreed to a complete ceasefire, specifying a phased implementation over several hours. The Iranian media confirmed the ceasefire's commencement at 7:30 am, followed by an announcement from the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Israeli government stated that its objectives were met, addressing threats related to nuclear and ballistic missile issues. The government emphasized that any ceasefire violation would be met with a strong response. Despite the ceasefire, Iran reportedly fired rockets at Israel, prompting sirens in northern towns and swift retaliation from Israel.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz ordered forceful strikes on Iranian regime targets in Tehran in response to Iran's ceasefire violation. The conflict saw continued exchanges before the ceasefire, with casualties reported on both sides. Nine people died in Rasht, Iran, and a senior Iranian nuclear scientist was reportedly killed in Israeli attacks. In Beersheba, Israel, five people were killed in a morning attack from Iran.
The Israeli military announced the destruction of missile launch pads in western Iran used in recent attacks. If the ceasefire holds, it would mark a success for Trump, who had the US join the conflict with surgical strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend. These strikes targeted key nuclear sites in Iran, escalating the ongoing war between the two nations.
Israel initiated large-scale attacks on June 13 to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, a charge Iran denies. In retaliation, Iran launched missile and drone strikes on Israel, resulting in numerous casualties on both sides.
