Israel and Iran Accept Ceasefire After 12 Days of Escalation
Israel and Iran have accepted a “complete and total ceasefire” brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump, marking the end of a deadly 12-day war that shook the Middle East and drew in global powers.
The ceasefire comes after Iran launched a retaliatory missile attack on a U.S. military base in Qatar and a final barrage of missiles into Israel that killed four civilians in Beersheba.
Final Blows: Airstrikes and Missile Attacks Hours Before Ceasefire
In the early hours of Tuesday, Israeli airstrikes pounded Iranian cities, including military and government sites, while Iran fired missiles that struck residential areas in southern Israel.
- 4 killed, 8 wounded in Beersheba
- Emergency teams combed rubble for survivors
- Missile hit some apartment “safe rooms” directly
The violence continued until shortly before 4 a.m. Tehran time, just ahead of the ceasefire deadline announced by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
🇺🇸 Trump’s Role: “The Ceasefire Is Now In Effect”
President Trump declared the ceasefire via Truth Social, stating:
“THE CEASEFIRE IS NOW IN EFFECT. PLEASE DO NOT VIOLATE IT!”
He dubbed the brief war the “12 Day War,” comparing its historical impact to the Six-Day War of 1967. Trump said the U.S. bombing of Iran’s nuclear sites helped push both sides to the negotiating table.
The ceasefire was coordinated with:
- Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu
- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio
- Special envoy Steve Witkoff
- Qatari intermediaries
Netanyahu Claims Victory
Prime Minister Netanyahu told his security cabinet Monday that Israel had achieved all military objectives, including:
- Disabling parts of Iran’s nuclear and missile programs
- Damaging Iran’s military leadership
- Gaining air dominance over Tehran
“Israel will respond forcefully to any violation of the ceasefire,” Netanyahu warned.
Death Toll Rises
According to Human Rights Activists, a U.S.-based watchdog group:
- 974 Iranians killed, including 387 civilians
- 24 Israelis killed, over 1,000 wounded
- Over 3,400 injured in Iran
The conflict has triggered emergency evacuations, including 250 American citizens from Israel.
Airspace Closed, Then Reopened
Iran’s missile attack on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar led to temporary airspace closures in both Israel and Qatar.
- Israel’s skies were closed to emergency flights
- Qatar Airways resumed service by Tuesday morning
Source: AP News