U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday issued a stern warning to Israel, urging it not to carry out additional airstrikes against Iran and emphasizing that any further aggression would violate the newly established ceasefire between the two countries.
Speaking to reporters ahead of his departure for the NATO summit in The Hague, Trump expressed disappointment over ceasefire violations by both Israel and Iran but made it clear he was particularly unhappy with Israel. “They [Israel] unloaded right after agreeing to the deal,” he said, describing Israel’s actions as a breach of trust.
Trump stated that Iran’s nuclear capabilities had been neutralized, suggesting that the primary objective behind the Israeli-U.S. strikes had been achieved. However, he reiterated that further escalation must be avoided at all costs.
In a direct message posted on his social media platform, Trump warned: “Israel. Do not drop those bombs. If you do it, it is a major violation. Bring your pilots home, now!” He later added, “THE CEASEFIRE IS NOW IN EFFECT. PLEASE DO NOT VIOLATE IT!”
Earlier on Tuesday, Israeli military officials reported detecting incoming launches from Iranian territory. In response, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz stated that Israel would retaliate “forcefully” to any provocation. Israel’s military instructed its citizens to seek shelter and remain indoors until further notice, as defense systems were activated to intercept potential threats.
However, Iranian state television denied launching any missiles post-ceasefire, rejecting claims of an Iranian attack as misinformation.
The fragile ceasefire, brokered by the United States, was announced by Trump less than three hours before tensions resurfaced. Under the agreement, Iran was to halt all military operations first, followed by a 12-hour delay before Israel reciprocated. The truce was intended to begin around 0400 GMT on Tuesday as part of a phased 24-hour de-escalation process.
According to an official Israeli statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed the Israeli cabinet that the country had “achieved all the objectives of Operation Rising Lion and much more.” The operation, the statement said, had eliminated “an immediate dual existential threat: nuclear and ballistic.”
Israel also extended its gratitude to President Trump and the U.S. government for their military and diplomatic support, stating, “Israel thanks President Trump and the United States for their support in defense and for their participation in removing the Iranian nuclear threat.” The statement concluded with a warning: “Israel will respond forcefully to any violation of the ceasefire.”
Despite the ceasefire declaration, the situation on the ground remains tense, with conflicting reports from both sides and widespread uncertainty over the stability of the truce. Observers have urged all parties to honor the agreement in order to prevent a resurgence of hostilities that could plunge the region back into war.
