US President Trump requires calm as truce settlement raises hope of an finish to the damaging battle.
Iran and Israel are reported to have agreed to a ceasefire following 12 days of exchanging intense air strikes, together with a “final minute” barrage fired by Tehran.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned in a press release on Tuesday morning that Israel had agreed to the truce proposal announced by United States President Donald Trump in a single day. Earlier, Iranian state tv reported that the ceasefire had begun.
The Israeli assertion got here not lengthy after Trump had mentioned in a publish on social media that the ceasefire was beneath approach.
“The ceasefire is now in impact. Please don’t violate it!” he mentioned.
Whereas Netanyahu threatened that Israel would reply forcefully to any violation of the ceasefire, the settlement raises hopes for a de-escalation in a battle that intensified dramatically in latest days, because the US bombed Iran’s nuclear amenities and Tehran attacked a US base in Qatar.
“In gentle of the achievement of the goals of the operation, and in full coordination with President Trump, Israel has agreed to the President’s proposal for a bilateral ceasefire,” he mentioned.
Waves of missiles
A fragile peace appeared to take maintain early on Tuesday, with experiences of hostilities ceasing following six waves of missile launches by Iran.
Iranian International Minister Abbas Araghchi implied the strikes had been launched simply earlier than a 07.30 GMT deadline introduced by Trump.
“The navy operations of our highly effective Armed Forces to punish Israel for its aggression continued till the final minute,” he wrote on social media.
A number of folks had been killed within the assaults, emergency providers and the Israeli navy mentioned. Not lengthy afterwards, Israelis had been advised they may depart missile shelters, and no additional launches have been reported.
Reporting from Tehran, Al Jazeera’s Tohid Asadi mentioned Israeli strikes on the capital had halted, calling the calm “a promising indication in regards to the prospect of the ceasefire”.
However he famous that the scenario stays fragile, with Iran, like Israel, having pledged to strike again in case there’s any resumption of assaults in opposition to it.
Following Netanyahu’s announcement that his authorities had agreed to the ceasefire, Israel’s opposition known as for him to seal a truce to finish the 20-month warfare with Hamas in Gaza.
“And now Gaza. It’s time to complete it there too. Deliver again the hostages, finish the warfare,” opposition chief Yair Lapid wrote on social media.