U.S. President Donald Trump announced that a ceasefire between Israel and Iran is now in effect, urging both nations to respect the truce after nearly two weeks of escalating conflict.
The ceasefire officially began at 7 a.m. local time (5 a.m. BST) today, following a period of intense exchanges between the two countries.
Moments before the truce took hold, an Iranian airstrike on the southern Israeli city of Beersheba killed four people, underscoring the fragile nature of the agreement.
Trump revealed the phased ceasefire deal on Monday night, stating that the war would officially “end” 24 hours after the truce if both sides abide by the terms.
“On the assumption that everything works as it should, which it will, I would like to congratulate both countries, Israel and Iran, on having the stamina, courage, and intelligence to end what should be called ‘THE 12 DAY WAR’,” Trump said.
The president reportedly brokered the agreement during a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who agreed to the truce provided Iran halted its attacks.
Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani is said to have played a key role in securing Iran’s approval of the proposal.
Iran’s Foreign Minister had earlier signaled Tehran’s willingness to stop fighting if Israel ceased its attacks. However, Israel has not publicly confirmed its participation in the ceasefire.
The truce comes after 12 days of heightened hostilities, raising fears of a broader regional conflict. The international community is watching closely to see if the ceasefire will hold
By Were Kelly
