Truce in Tatters: Iran and Israel Clash Despite Ceasefire Deal
A fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran, brokered just hours earlier, is already in jeopardy after fresh exchanges of fire and accusations of violations from both sides.
The 12-day conflict appeared to come to an end when U.S. President Donald Trump announced that “both sides had agreed to the ceasefire,” with Iran and Israel confirming a mutual pause in hostilities. But tensions quickly reignited, casting doubt on the truce’s durability.
Just minutes before the ceasefire was set to begin, an Iranian ballistic missile struck a residential building in Beersheba, southern Israel, killing four civilians. Hours later, Israel reported further missile launches from Iran.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said its air defence systems were active and intercepting threats, while warning civilians to seek shelter. “Air defence systems are operating to intercept the threat,” the IDF said, urging residents to “hide in shelters until further notice.”
Iran denied launching the attacks, but Israel accused Tehran of a “severe violation” of the ceasefire and vowed a harsh response. The Israeli prime minister’s office said it would “respond forcefully to any violations of the truce.”
Iran’s supreme national security council responded, saying it was “imposing the halt of the war” on Israel and its “terrorist supporters,” and warned that “any further aggression will be met with a decisive, firm, and timely response by Iran.”
President Trump expressed frustration at both sides but singled out Israel. “Israel, as soon as we made the deal, they came out and they dropped a load of bombs, the likes of which I’ve never seen before,” he said, visibly angry, before departing for a NATO summit in the Netherlands.
On Truth Social, he posted: “ISRAEL. DO NOT DROP THOSE BOMBS. IF YOU DO, IT IS A MAJOR VIOLATION. BRING YOUR PILOTS HOME, NOW!”
