President Donald Trump announced a “complete and total ceasefire” between Israel and Iran shortly after Iran launched a limited missile attack on a U.S. military base in Qatar on Monday. This missile strike was Iran’s retaliation for the recent American airstrikes targeting its nuclear facilities. However, the ceasefire’s status remained uncertain after Iran fired missiles at Israel just after the initial deadline for the truce had passed.
The missile attacks from Iran forced many Israelis to rush into bomb shelters at daybreak. According to Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency services, at least four people were killed and eight were injured in these strikes. Israel has not yet publicly confirmed Trump’s ceasefire declaration. Meanwhile, Iranian state media reported that a general ceasefire began at 7:30 a.m. local time.
In the southern Israeli city of Beersheba, emergency crews pulled four bodies from a damaged building and continued searching for additional victims. The area around the blast was strewn with broken glass and debris, with shattered windows in nearby homes as residents anxiously gathered outside. Three people were rescued alive from nearby structures.
This attack on Beersheba occurred just days after the city’s hospital was seriously damaged in a previous missile strike. The Israeli military announced that people could come out of shelters but should remain nearby for safety in the coming hours.
Trump’s ceasefire announcement came soon after Iran’s missile strike on the U.S. base in Qatar, which was a direct response to American bombings on Iranian nuclear sites. Despite the announcement, Israel has not confirmed the ceasefire.
Trump shared on his social platform Truth Social that the ceasefire would begin around midnight Washington time, calling it the “Official END” of the conflict. Later, he emphasized: “THE CEASEFIRE IS NOW IN EFFECT. PLEASE DO NOT VIOLATE IT! DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!”
Israel Pauses Attacks but Does Not Confirm Ceasefire
Israel did not immediately confirm any ceasefire agreement, but no Israeli airstrikes were reported on Iranian targets after 4 a.m. Tehran time. Intense Israeli strikes continued in Iran up to that point. Historically, Israel often increases its strikes just before ceasefires take hold.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on social media: “As of now, there is NO ‘agreement’ on any ceasefire or cessation of military operations.” He warned that if Israel ceased its “illegal aggression” by 4 a.m. Tehran time, Iran would stop retaliatory attacks. However, he added that Iran’s final decision on stopping military actions was still pending.
The Israeli military did not respond to Trump’s ceasefire claim, and the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not comment.
Trump Calls Conflict the “12 Day War”
Trump dubbed the conflict the “12 Day War,” evoking the historical 1967 Six Day War between Israel and neighboring Arab nations. This reference resonates strongly in the Middle East, especially among Palestinians, since the 1967 war resulted in Israel capturing territories like the West Bank and Gaza.
According to a senior White House official, Trump communicated directly with Netanyahu to negotiate the ceasefire. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, envoy Steve Witkoff, and Ambassador Vance engaged Iran through direct and indirect channels. The White House credits the Saturday bombing and Qatar’s mediation for encouraging Israel’s agreement to the ceasefire.
The role of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, remains unclear, though he earlier vowed he would not surrender.
Iran’s Missile Attack on U.S. Base Shows Willingness to De-escalate
Despite striking the U.S. base in Qatar, Iran indicated readiness to reduce tensions. Tehran warned Washington ahead of the attack, and no casualties were reported. Trump dismissed the attack as a “very weak response.”
Qatar condemned the attack on Al Udeid Air Base as a breach of its sovereignty and international law. Qatar said it intercepted all but one missile, though damage from the single missile was unclear.
Iran stated that its missile volley matched the number of bombs the U.S. dropped on Iranian nuclear facilities. It also claimed it targeted a base away from populated areas to avoid civilian harm.
Qatari Maj. Gen. Shayeq Al Hajri reported that 19 missiles were fired at the base, which houses the Combined Air Operations Center and the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, the largest U.S. air unit globally. Trump said 14 missiles were launched; 13 were intercepted, and one was allowed through because it posed no threat.
Iran’s state television described the strike as “a mighty and successful response” to “America’s aggression."
Air Travel Resumes Following Missile Attacks
False alarms of missile attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq were traced to debris from malfunctioning Iranian missiles.
By Tuesday, Qatar Airways resumed flights after Qatar temporarily closed its airspace following the Iranian attack. Flight tracking showed commercial planes flying again in Qatari skies, signaling the threat had diminished.
The Israel Airport Authority closed the country’s airspace for several hours due to the Iranian missile barrages, grounding all passenger and emergency flights. Some flights had to circle over the Mediterranean Sea.
Though Israel’s airports have been closed since the war began, limited emergency flights had resumed in recent days.
Iran and Israel Exchange Strikes
On early Tuesday, Iran and Israel exchanged missile and drone attacks. Iran targeted Israeli territory, while Israel struck Iranian government sites, including units responsible for suppressing protests and Evin prison, known for holding political prisoners.
Iranian state media aired footage claiming the prison was under control, but human rights groups voiced concern over detainees’ safety.
Israel also hit roads near the Fordo nuclear enrichment site to disrupt access. The underground facility was among the U.S. airstrike targets. The Israeli military provided no further details.
The head of the UN nuclear watchdog expects significant damage at Fordo from the U.S. strikes.
Iranian officials claim they removed nuclear materials from key sites before the attacks.
Trump Raises Possibility of Regime Change
Israeli officials insist they are not seeking to overthrow Iran’s government, their longtime adversary. However, Trump himself raised the idea of regime change shortly after U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
He tweeted: “If the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change???” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump was “simply raising a question.”
Before the ceasefire, an Israeli official said Israel hoped to end the war soon but that the timeline depended on Iran. Israel prefers Iran agrees to a ceasefire and returns to nuclear negotiations but is prepared for a prolonged low-level conflict or “quiet for quiet” monitoring.
Heavy Casualties Reported
The conflict has killed at least 24 Israelis and wounded more than 1,000. Israeli strikes in Iran have caused nearly 1,000 deaths and injured over 3,400, according to the Washington-based Human Rights Activists group.
Among Iranian casualties, 387 civilians and 268 security personnel were identified.
The U.S. evacuated approximately 250 Americans and their families from Israel via government, military, and charter flights. Roughly 700,000 Americans, mostly dual citizens, remain in Israel.