Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday confirmed that Israel has accepted a ceasefire proposal put forward by U.S. President Donald Trump to end the 12-day war with Iran—a conflict that escalated tensions across the Middle East.
The ceasefire announcement followed Tehran’s retaliatory missile strike on a U.S. military base in Qatar. In response, Netanyahu issued a stern warning to Iran, cautioning against any breach of the truce.
“Israel will respond forcefully to any violation of the ceasefire,” Netanyahu said during a briefing.
The Prime Minister reported to Israel’s security cabinet on Monday night that the objectives of the military campaign had been fully achieved. According to him, these include the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities, the weakening of its military leadership, and the targeting of key government installations. He also claimed that Israel had established aerial dominance over Tehran during the operation.
Early Tuesday, Iranian missile strikes hit several Israeli cities. Israeli soldiers, alongside emergency services, searched through the rubble of damaged buildings. Four bodies were recovered from the debris. In response to the attack, residents across Israel took shelter in underground bunkers as Tehran fired a final salvo before the U.S.-brokered truce deadline.
President Trump, in a statement posted on his Truth Social platform, announced that both nations had agreed to a “complete and total ceasefire,” with implementation phased over a 24-hour period. Under the plan, Iran was to halt hostilities first, followed by Israel 12 hours later.
The ceasefire comes after nearly two weeks of heavy exchanges that claimed hundreds of lives in Iran and dozens in Israel. Trump stated that both sides had committed to remaining “peaceful and respectful” throughout the ceasefire process.
However, initial ambiguity surrounded the ceasefire’s terms. Iran’s Foreign Minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, initially denied that an agreement had been finalized. He later suggested that Tehran might consider suspending attacks if Israel refrains from further aggression.
The fragile truce now hinges on both sides maintaining restraint amid ongoing regional volatility.
