Iran’s armed forces have accused Israel of launching strikes at the republic until Tuesday morning, after US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between the two sides.
“The Zionist regime launched three waves of attacks on sites in Iranian territory until 9:00 am (0530 GMT) today,” a spokesman for the armed forces command was quoted as saying on state TV, without providing further details.
Before the truce began, both sides exchanged heavy fire overnight.
A few minutes before the truce, an Iranian ballistic missile hit a residential building in Israel’s southern city of Beersheba, killing four people.
The Israeli military said it identified missiles launched from Iran.
The IDF said air defence systems are “operating to intercept the threat” and told people to hide in shelters until further notice.
However, Iran has denied the attacks.
The IDF has vowed to respond with force to what it calls Iran’s severe violation.
In response, Iran’s supreme national security council issued a statement about “imposing the halt of the war” on Israel and its terrorist supporters.
In a statement released on Monday, Trump said both countries had agreed to halt hostilities within a 24-hour framework, beginning with Iran.
He described the agreement as a major diplomatic breakthrough aimed at averting further destruction in the Middle East.
According to the U.S. president, the truce would begin once both nations complete their final operations, with Iran expected to commence its part in the first 12 hours and Israel in the next 12.
“At the end of the 24-hour window, the war would be officially declared over”, Trump, a key supporter of Israel in the war stated.
He said “This is a war that could have gone on for years and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn’t, and never will”.
He praised the leadership of both nations for demonstrating “stamina, courage and intelligence” in bringing the conflict to a close.
“God bless Israel, God bless Iran, God bless the Middle East, God bless the United States of America, and God bless the world,” he added.
Daily Trust reports that the announcement followed nearly two weeks of escalating violence, missile exchanges and airstrikes that raised fears of a regional conflagration.
However, Trump’s move was tested within hours of the announcement.
Iranian missiles reportedly struck Beersheba in southern Israel just before the ceasefire was due to begin, killing at least five civilians and injuring more than 20 others.
The Israeli government immediately accused Iran of violating the agreement and ordered renewed strikes on strategic targets in Tehran.
Iran, in response, denied any breach of the agreement, insisting that its operations had concluded before the ceasefire window.
As air raid sirens sounded across northern Israel early Tuesday, tension remained high and the ceasefire’s future uncertain.
Meanwhile, global markets responded positively to the news of the truce, with oil prices reportedly dropping amid brief recovery of investors confidence.
The development has also attracted mixed international reactions.
Qatar, which was reported to have facilitated back-channel negotiations, urged both sides to honour their commitments.
European and NATO leaders called for restraint and warned that further escalation would carry grave regional and global consequences.
