Israel Accuses Iran of Breaking Cease-Fire Announced by Trump
Underscoring the fragility of the deal, Israel said Iran had fired another missile barrage and threatened to retaliate. Iranās military denied launching an attack after the cease-fire went into effect, Iranian state news outlets reported.
The fate of a truce announced by President Trump that went into effect early Tuesday hung in the balance, as the Israeli military said Iran had fired another missile barrage and vowed to retaliate.
The claim from Israelās military came just hours after the country had joined Iran in agreeing to the truce, spurring cautious hopes for an end to 12 days of unprecedented warfare between the adversaries, and as both sides seemingly claimed victory in the conflict. Iranās military denied firing missiles after the cease-fire went into effect,Ā according to Iranian state news outletsĀ ā adding to the uncertainty.
Mr. Trumpās announcement, on the eve of the NATO summit, could give the president a chance toĀ take a victory lapĀ at the gathering ā if the truce holds. The timing of it hadĀ caught some of his own officials by surprise, and both sides continued to trade fire in the last moments before confirming a truce was in effect.
The Israeli military said it had struck missile launchers in western Iran that were poised to fire at Israel. Iran launched at least four barrages of ballistic missiles at Israel, setting off sirens that sent millions of Israelis rushing in and out of shelters. At least four people were killed when a missile hit an apartment building in the southern city of Beersheba.
But by around 7.30 a.m. in Israel, a tentative calm appeared to have taken hold as the military issued an all-clear, allowing people to exit bomb shelters. Soon after, President Trump announced the truce was in force. āPLEASE DO NOT VIOLATE IT!ā he added.
There was initially silence from the Israeli government, which has in the past often waited in the first, delicate hours to see whether quiet is being answered with quiet before declaring conflicts over. Just after 9 a.m. local time, Israelās government issued a statement saying it had agreed to a mutual cease-fire, having achieved its goals in its campaign in Iran, āand in full coordination with President Trump.ā Iran, similarly,Ā cast the truceĀ as a sign its military had prevailed.
But underscoring the fragility of the situation, more sirens wailed in northern Israel nearly two hours later, warning of missiles launched from Iran. The Israeli military accused Iran of breaking the cease-fire ā sayingĀ in a statementĀ that it would ārespond with force.ā
