On Tuesday, Israel announced its intention to “respond forcefully” to Iran’s violation of the ceasefire following Tehran’s launch of a renewed missile attack on the Jewish state. This occurred hours after both adversaries consented to the ceasefire proposal presented by U.S. President Donald Trump. Iran, for its part, denied initiating any new missile strikes against Israel and stated that it remains “on high alert” to respond to “any act of aggression.’
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated, “I have instructed the Israeli military to respond decisively to Iran’s breach of the ceasefire by executing significant strikes against regime targets in the heart of Tehran.’
Meanwhile, President Trump issued a warning on social media, stating, “Do not drop those bombs,” after Israel commenced “powerful strikes” on Iran. He further remarked that additional strikes would constitute a “major violation” of the ceasefire agreement he announced between the two nations.
Earlier, Trump announced a phased 24-hour ceasefire plan, which Israel consented to. Iran had not previously officially accepted the ceasefire; however, following the latest strikes, the Supreme National Security Council of Iran issued a statement affirming its acceptance of the agreement.
During the night, both parties engaged in exchanges of fire, with residents of Tehran told that they experienced some of the “heaviest” attacks by Israel. Local authorities report that nine individuals have lost their lives in northern Iran. According to Israel’s emergency services, four people were killed in Beersheba. Rescue teams said that a structure was struck where inhabitants had been seeking shelter.
Test Ceasefire between Iran and Israel
Israeli media reports further indicated that a test ceasefire was in effect from Israel’s side until 7 pm local time. During this interval, the Jewish state would refrain from conducting any military operations and would observe Tehran’s response. If Tehran upheld the truce agreement until 7 pm, Israel would declare a prolonged ceasefire, additional reports stated.
Iran’s Denial of Launching a Missile
Iranian state media reported that Tehran has refuted claims of launching a missile towards Israel following the announcement of a ceasefire. The General Staff of the Iranian armed forces officially denied any missile launches from Iran targeting the occupied territories (Israel) in recent hours, as reported by state television. The Supreme National Security Council of Iran issued a statement asserting that the Islamic Republic’s forces had “compelled” Israel to unilaterally cease fire while also emphasizing that they remain “on high alert” to counter any acts of aggression.
Referring to a “divine gift,” Iran’s foremost security authority stated that Tehran’s actions against Jerusalem resulted in “victory and triumph, which compelled the enemy to regret, accept defeat, and unilaterally cease its aggression.” Iran’s forces are described as ‘remaining on high alert, with fingers on the trigger, ready to deliver a decisive and regret-inducing response to any act of aggression,’ as stated in the report.
According to Iranian media, Iran’s Minister of Health reports that 606 individuals have been killed in Israeli strikes since June 13, with over 5,000 injured and currently under medical care, as conveyed by Mohammad Reza Zafarghani. The Minister further indicates that Iran has experienced its most severe attacks in the past 24 hours, resulting in 107 fatalities.
Due to governmental restrictions, journalists are restricted from reporting within Iran, thereby complicating efforts to verify the extent of the damage. Human Rights Activists in Iran have claimed that the number of fatalities is nearly twice the official figure.
