Israel and Iran have both accepted a ceasefire proposal from U.S. President Donald Trump, bringing an end to their 12-day conflict that has rocked the Middle East.
The agreement followed a final wave of Iranian missile attacks early Tuesday that killed at least four people in Israel, along with intense Israeli airstrikes targeting Iranian sites overnight. Iran also fired a limited missile barrage at a U.S. military base in Qatar as part of its retaliation, though the strike resulted in no casualties after prior warnings were issued.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Israel's acceptance of the ceasefire, stating that the country had achieved its military objectives, including targeting Iran's nuclear and missile programs, damaging key Iranian military leadership, and asserting control over Tehran’s airspace.
“Israel will respond decisively to any breach of the ceasefire,” Netanyahu warned.
The final Iranian barrage heavily damaged residential buildings in Beersheba, Israel's largest southern city. Four bodies were recovered from one of the sites, and at least eight others were injured, some even while sheltering inside reinforced safe rooms designed to withstand rockets.
President Trump declared the ceasefire officially in effect via a post on Truth Social, urging both sides to respect the agreement. His administration coordinated directly with Netanyahu and engaged Iran through diplomatic channels, with Qatar playing a mediating role in the talks.
Iranian state media confirmed the ceasefire took effect at 7:30 a.m. local time, though Iranian officials offered mixed messages. Iran’s foreign minister initially stated there was no formal agreement, but signaled Iran would halt attacks if Israel ceased its operations by early Tuesday morning.
‘Please do not violate ceasefire’: Trump to Israel and Iran
The conflict, dubbed the "12 Day War" by Trump, evoked comparisons to the 1967 Six-Day War, a sensitive historical reference for the region, particularly among Palestinians.
During the fighting, Israeli airspace was temporarily shut down after Iranian missile attacks, forcing flights to divert or delay. Qatar also briefly closed its skies following Iran's strike on Al Udeid Air Base, but commercial flights in the region have since resumed.
The toll from the 12-day conflict has been heavy. In Israel, at least 24 people have been killed and over 1,000 injured. Iranian casualties stand at nearly 1,000 dead and over 3,400 wounded, according to Human Rights Activists, a U.S.-based monitoring group. The victims include both civilians and security personnel.
Iran denies any ceasefire agreement with Israel at present
The U.S. has evacuated approximately 250 of its citizens from Israel amid the hostilities, with an estimated 700,000 Americans, mostly dual nationals, believed to be in the country.
Source: With inputs from agency